Welcoming ceremony for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's official visit to Vietnam

Before the talks, the two Prime Ministers visited a photo exhibition about the country, people and good relations between Vietnam and Spain, organized by the Government Office in coordination with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez listen to military bands playing the national anthems of the two countries. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

On the morning of April 9, at the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the welcoming ceremony for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who paid an official visit to Vietnam from April 8-10.

This is the first time a Spanish Prime Minister has officially visited Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1977; it is also the first official visit to Vietnam by a high-ranking Spanish State leader after 19 years since the visit of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in 2006.

Happy to meet again after 5 months since the meeting on the occasion of attending the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024, in a sincere, warm and open atmosphere, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh went to the car door to welcome Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

After receiving a bouquet of flowers from the children of Hanoi, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh walked together with the waving flags of Vietnam and Spain in their hands. When the two leaders stepped onto the podium, under the flags of the two countries, the national anthems of Spain and Vietnam were played.

In a solemn atmosphere, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez walked forward to salute the national flags of the two countries. After that, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh invited Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to review the Guard of Honor of the Vietnam People's Army.

The two Prime Ministers introduced members of the two countries' high-ranking delegations attending the welcoming ceremony; and witnessed the welcoming parade of the Vietnam People's Army Honor Guard.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez review the Guard of Honor of the Vietnam People's Army. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

After the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez moved to the Government Headquarters to hold talks.

According to the program, along with talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, during his visit to Vietnam, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will meet with senior leaders of the Party, State, and National Assembly of Vietnam and participate in a number of other important activities in Hanoi and visit Ho Chi Minh City.

Over the past 48 years, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Spain have continuously developed and expanded in many fields, especially after the two countries established a Strategic Partnership towards the future in 2009.

The two countries have built a strong relationship and extensive cooperation based on trust and mutual understanding through regular delegation exchanges and cooperation at all levels. The two countries actively cooperate and support each other in multilateral mechanisms, especially within the framework of the United Nations and ASEAN-EU.

Bilateral economic and trade relations have seen many strong developments. The two sides effectively implemented the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect from August 2020. Spain is also the country that ratified the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in January 2022.

Spain is Vietnam's 5th largest trading partner in the EU and Vietnam is Spain's largest trading partner in ASEAN. In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached 4.72 billion USD. As of January 2025, Spain has 97 projects in Vietnam with a capital of 143.9 million USD, ranking 46th out of 149 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Vietnam has 3 investment projects in Spain with a capital of 64.2 million USD.

Vietnam has always been one of the priority countries in Spain's development cooperation policy, with a commitment to provide Vietnam with ODA loans and non-refundable aid worth more than 1 billion USD through 6 cooperation programs.

In the field of education and training, the two countries focus on language training, with the support of the Cervantes Chamber and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation - AECID. From 1998 to 2018, Spain has granted 285 scholarships to Vietnam. Cooperation in culture, sports and tourism between the two countries has always been promoted, with signed agreements, organizing many cultural exchange events, arts, cinema, exhibitions, and tourism promotion in each country.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomes Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

Vietnam currently offers a unilateral visa exemption for Spanish citizens for 45 days. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed 91,400 Spanish tourists. The Vietnamese community in Spain currently has about 5,000 people, mainly small traders, integrated into the local community.

Vietnam and Spain are at a stage where they share the most common interests ever to deepen their Strategic Partnership. Therefore, the official visit to Vietnam by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez this time is of great significance, demonstrating Spain's determination to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam. The visit contributes to promoting diplomatic, economic and trade relations between the two countries; creating momentum for the two countries to continue their efforts to develop the relationship towards new heights, more substantive and effective.

During the visit, the two sides are expected to focus on discussing measures to promote cooperation to enhance political trust, deepen the existing relationship and open up new opportunities in potential areas, especially in politics-diplomacy, economics-trade-investment, science and technology, infrastructure, urban transport, sustainable development, and renewable energy. During the visit, the two sides will sign a number of important cooperation documents./.

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