Hanoi (VNA) - Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Carmen Cano De Lasala has described 2025 as a “highly important and special” year, marked by pivotal milestones that laid a solid foundation for the two countries to elevate the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in the near future.
In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), De Lasala said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s official visit to Vietnam in April 2025 - the first by a Spanish prime minister since diplomatic ties were established in 1977 - marked a historic milestone, as leaders of the two countries agreed to work towards upgrading the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, a goal reinforced by the inaugural meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic, Trade, and Investment Cooperation held in Madrid two months ago.
Despite the geographical distance, people-to-people ties between the two countries have grown stronger than ever, she stated, adding that Spaniards feel extremely comfortable in Vietnam, where they are always welcomed with warmth and sincerity.
A record of nearly 100,000 Spanish tourists visit Vietnam each year, vividly underscoring the Southeast Asian country’s growing appeal, she noted, adding that Spain’s newly released Foreign Action Strategy identifies Vietnam as a top-priority partner to fully unlock the potential for bilateral cooperation.
Regarding the European Union (EU) - Vietnam diplomatic relations and five years of the implementation of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the diplomat noted the agreement had been extremely positive for the bilateral ties. Since the agreement took effect, EU–Vietnam trade has surged by 46%. The bilateral trade with Spain alone rose 17% in 2024, hitting 6 billion EUR (over 7 billion USD).
However, the ambassador emphasised that efforts are needed to address the current trade imbalance, as Spanish exports to Vietnam remain relatively modest compared with their potential.
De Lasala called for the removal of non-tariff barriers and encouraging Spanish companies operating in key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and tourism to engage more deeply in Vietnam’s impressive socio-economic development. She also highlighted that Spain was among the first EU countries to ratify the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
Regarding sustainable development, the diplomat particularly spotlighted the long-standing maritime tradition of both countries, noting that Spain is not only a member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) but also the world’s second-largest fishing power.
For efforts to lift the European Commission's “yellow card” for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the ambassador affirmed that this is a key and decisive task to protect the ocean. She stated that Spain has invested heavily in both technology and human resources in this fight, much like Vietnam is determined to do.
De Lasala emphasised that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries in April this year has opened the door to deeper cooperation in the fisheries sector.
Spain stands ready to share its valuable practical experience with Vietnam to jointly promote sustainable ocean management and blue economic development, she added./.
