Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives new Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Carmen Cano De Lasala in Hanoi on April 4. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received new Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Carmen Cano De Lasala in Hanoi on April 4.
At the reception, the PM congratulated the Ambassador as she begins herterm in Vietnam when the two countries celebrated the 15thanniversary of the establishment of their strategic partnership towards thefuture (2009 - 2024).
He affirmed that Vietnam wishes tobring the strategic partnership with Spain to a new level that is commensuratewith the cooperation potential of the two sides.
PM Chinh suggested the two sidesincrease delegation exchange and contacts at all levels andcontinue to effectively deploy bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
He said the two countries shouldtake full advantage of the opportunities provided by the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA), calling on Spain to open the market for Vietnameseproducts, especially agricultural goods, electronics, textiles, and garments.
Chinh welcomed Spain's opening of the Chamber of Commerce inVietnam in 2023, asking Ambassador Lasala to support Spanishbusinesses to invest in Vietnam in areas where Spain has strengths such astransportation infrastructure, renewable energy, tourism, education, especiallyhigh-quality human resources training and science and technology transfer.
Regarding the East Sea issue, PM Chinh urged Spain to continue to raise voice to advocate the rule oflaw in the East Sea, support the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN on resolvingdisputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the 1982United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
For her part, the Ambassador said Spanish businesses are more and more interested in cooperating with Vietnam.
She proposed four key areas for bilateral cooperation in the coming time, namely infrastructure, renewable energy,defence, and tourism.
She also agreed with the Vietnamese PM on promoting cultural andsports cooperation, informing that the Spanish embassy is coordinating with the embassies ofLatin American countries in Vietnam to organise aninternational workshop on teaching Spanish in Vietnam.
The ambassador said she hopes Spanish will be taught in high schools inVietnam.
On this occasion, PM Chinh asked the Spanish Ambassador toconvey his invitation to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to make anofficial visit to Vietnam soon. Chinh also thanked Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezfor inviting him to visit Spain and requested the foreign ministries of the twocountries to arrange a visit at a suitable time./.
