Vietnam, Spain boost strategic partnership

Madrid (VNA) – The Vietnam Embassy in Spain has held a ceremony to mark Vietnam’s 74th National Day and the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam – Spain strategic partnership.

The event gathered 400 guests who are representatives of Spanish public agencies and enterprises, as well as of foreign embassies and the Vietnamese community in Spain.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Spain Ngo Tien Dung reviewed Vietnam’s historical path to independence and reform, which has turned it into a country of political stability, dynamic economy, and international integration.

He also highlighted Vietnam’s upcoming positions as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and a non-permanent of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

The diplomat stated Spain, the first strategic partner of Vietnam in Europe, has always been the country’s important partner in the EU for years.

Bilateral trade grew annually at a growth rate of more than 15 percent in 17 years to reach 3.6 billion USD in 2018. Last year, 80,000 Spanish tourists visited Vietnam. These figures and several frame cooperation agreements signed between the countries will help deepen their engagements particularly in trade-investment, energy, and infrastructure.

Xiana Margarida Méndez Bértolo, State Secretary for Trade at the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, affirmed Spain values the enhancement of its comprehensive collaboration with Vietnam.

Stressing that Vietnam is an important partner of Spain in ASEAN, she hoped the early ratification of the free trade and investment protection agreements signed between the EU and Vietnam in June will create favourable conditions for the two nations to expand their economic and investment ties across fields.

The ceremony featured a fashion show of Vietnamese traditional long dress Ao Dai, a photo exhibition and film screening, and Vietnamese food./.