Welcoming the significant progress in bilateral relations, the head of Vietnamese diplomacy said that Vietnam always attaches importance and wishes to promote cooperation with Spain, Vietnam’s first strategic partner within the European Union ( EU).
He asked the two sides to increase high-level mutual visits and meetings, maintain the frequency of political consultations at the vice-ministerial level, and coordinate to revise and improve the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two ministries of Foreign Affairs as well as the joint action plan of the two governments.
Bui Thanh Son recommended that the two countries continue to successfully implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to soon increase bilateral trade from 4 billion to 5 billion USD.
He also called on Spain to push for the ratification by other EU countries of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), as well as the rapid removal by the European Commission of the “yellow card” on exports of Vietnamese aquatic products.
The minister also expressed hope that the Spanish government and businesses will seize cooperation opportunities with Vietnam in human resource training, institution building and infrastructure development, which are the three strategic breakthroughs targeted by Vietnam.
Welcoming his visit to Vietnam and the resumption of political consultations after seven years, Diego Martinez Belio affirmed that Vietnam is a major priority of Spain in Southeast Asia and that his country hopes to further strengthen bilateral cooperation .
Cooperation in various fields
The Spanish Secretary of State pledged to coordinate closely with the Vietnamese side to intensify exchanges of delegations, renew soon the memorandum of understanding between the two foreign ministries, in particular by promoting collaboration between the diplomatic academies of the countries , and update the joint action plan of the two countries.
He expressed Spain’s desire to strengthen ties with Vietnam in terms of transport infrastructure, renewable energy and education, particularly by promoting the teaching of the Spanish language in Vietnam. He also said his country will strengthen bilateral relations in the fields of science, technology, culture, sports and tourism.
Regarding international and regional issues, both sides agreed that their countries will maintain coordination and mutual support in international and regional forums such as the United Nations and ASEAN-EU cooperation.
They shared views on respecting the law and supporting the position of ASEAN and Vietnam on the peaceful settlement of maritime issues on the basis of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNCLOS).
On the same day, Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Thi Thu Hang and Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs Diego Martinez Belio co-chaired the 5th political consultation between the two countries.
The two sides reviewed cooperation, identified directions and measures to strengthen the Vietnam-Spain strategic partnership in the future and discussed some international and regional issues of common interest. They agreed to soon organize the 6th political consultation at vice-minister level in Spain.
This article is originally published on lecourrier.vn
