The foreign ministers of Vietnam and Spain have agreed on measures to boost bilateral ties between the two countries, following talks held in Hanoi on March 26.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Manual Garcia Margallo concurred that the two sides should increase communication and the exchange of delegations, while optimising existing cooperative channels, such as political consultations at deputy foreign minister level and the joint committee on development cooperation.

At the same time, they promised to create favourable conditions for businesses of both countries to meet and establish links.

The two politicians stated attention should be paid to expanding collaboration in culture, education-training, transport, tourism and security-defence in the time to come.

Discussing international and regional issues of common concern, the two sides agreed to maintain their close coordination at international and regional forums, particularly those in the framework of the United Nations, ASEAN-EU and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Vietnam pledged to work as a bridge to help Spain expand its relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN member countries.

Spain affirmed its support for stronger relations between Vietnam and the EU, including swift recognition of Vietnam’s full market economy status.

Minister Margallo, who is being accompanied by 15 leading Spanish businesses, is making an official visit to Vietnam from March 25-27 at the invitation of FM Minh, who is also Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister.

Vietnam and Spain have seen their ties grow on the foundation of a strategic partnership, which was established in 2009. Two-way trade almost doubled over the past three years, from 1.33 billion USD in 2010 to 2.4 billion USD in 2013.-VNA