At the meeting, part of the Vietnamese Deputy PM’s officialvisit to the European country, the two sides applauded the recent strides in theircountries’ relations.
They agreed to increase mutual visits at all levels,effectively carry out bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and fruitfullyimplement the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to raise bilateraltrade to 5 billion USD.
DeputyPM Quang said Vietnam always attaches importance to the “strategic partnership towards the future” with Spain. His counterpartalso noted that Spain respects Vietnam’s stature and role in the Asia-Pacificregion.
Quang asked Spain to create optimum conditions for Vietnam’sagricultural and fishery products to access its market and the EU; encourageSpanish businesses to boost high-quality investment in such fields asinfrastructure, renewable energy, transport, and information technology inVietnam; and support the European Commission’s removal of the IUU fishingwarning for Vietnam’s fishery export.
He also called on the Spanish Government tocontinue providing favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community, which hedescribed as an important bridge of the countries’ friendship.
At the talks, Calviño highlighted Spanish enterprises’growing attention to the Vietnamese market and highly valued Vietnam’spolitical stability and favourable investment and business climate.
She agreed to maintain development assistance for theSoutheast Asian country.
Vietnam is a favourite tourism destination of many Spanishpeople, she noted, agreeing to consider the opening of a direct airroute between the two countries.
Calviño added Vietnam has been striving to developingsustainable fisheries. She pledged technical support for the country to improveits fisheries management system to prevent IUU fishing as requested by the EU.
Bothsides also concurred in expanding cooperation in security - defence, education -training, science - technology, natural resources and environment, digitaltransformation, response to global challenges like climate change and foodinsecurity; and in early signing an agreement on cultural and sport cooperation to help promote mutual understanding and people-to-people exchange.
Besides, the two officials also discussed someregional and international issues of common concern./.