Madrid (VNA) – A high-level delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), led by Phan Dinh Trac, Politburo member, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, and head of its Commission for Internal Affairs, paid a working visit to Spain from November 17 to 21.
The visit aimed to concretise the outcomes of the official trip by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Vietnam in April 2025 and simultaneously strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
In Spain, the delegation held working sessions with senior leaders from the Spanish Parliament, Government agencies, and political parties, including First Vice President of the Senate Javier Maroto; head of the justice committee of the Congress of Deputies Joaquin Salmeron; Secretary General of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) Enrique Santiago Romero; and Federal Coordinator of the Spanish United Left (IU) Antonio Maíllo.
During the meetings, Trac shared information on Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements after nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (Renewal), and the key outcomes of the 13th National Party Congress, particularly in science and technology, digital transformation, education, and healthcare. He also exchanged experiences with the Spanish side on state governance, perfecting the legal framework, judicial reform, and corruption combat.
The Spanish side expressed admiration for Vietnam’s significant socio-economic and foreign affairs achievements, especially its successful efforts in streamlining the administrative apparatus amid a complex global context. The hosts affirmed the great importance they attach to the friendship and Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, considered Vietnam a priority partner in Southeast Asia, and expressed their desire to expand cooperation across fields.
Both sides noted with satisfaction the positive progress in multifaceted bilateral cooperation, particularly the growth in two-way trade. The trade turnover reached 3.7 billion USD in the first 10 months of 2025 (a 6% increase year-on-year), with full-year projections around USD5 billion. Based on enhanced political trust and deepening cooperation, both sides agreed to coordinate closely to implement agreed initiatives, striving to elevate the bilateral relationship to a new level.
The Spanish side committed to boosting cooperation across all sectors, notably investment in renewable energy, which is a flagship industry for Spain. The Spanish officials also requested that Vietnam continue creating favourable conditions for Spanish investors and support the development of Spanish language teaching in Vietnam. Significantly, Spain affirmed its continued support for Vietnam, promising to urge the remaining EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) soon and the European Commission to consider lifting the "Yellow card" warning on Vietnamese seafood.
Reaffirming the high value placed on the Strategic Partnership, Trac proposed that both sides maintain the exchange of delegations and high-level contacts across the Party, State, and people-to-people channels. He urged utilising existing cooperation mechanisms effectively, such as the Political Consultations and the Joint Committee on Economy, Trade, and Investment, while expanding cooperation frameworks in priority areas like science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and renewable energy.
During the visit, the delegation met with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Spain./.
