Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang (R) and Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Reyes Maroto (Photo: VNA) Madrid (VNA) –Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has affirmed the determination to step up theextensive and practical development of Vietnam-Spain "strategic partnershiptowards the future", especially in trade and investment, to uphold each side’spotential and strength.
Meeting with Spanish Ministerof Industry, Trade and Tourism Reyes Maroto in Madrid on March 2 (localtime), Quang suggested Spain encourageits businesses to shift their high-quality investments to Vietnam in areas thatalign with the two countries’ strengths and development needs such asinfrastructure, renewable energy, transport, information technology andtourism; enhance cooperation and technology transfer in food hygiene andsafety, seafood processing to improve the value of Vietnamese seafood exportsto Spain.
He also proposed Spainsupport the European Commission (EC)’s early removal of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing yellow card against Vietnam'sseafood exports.
Maroto, forher part, said a number of Spanish enterprises are interested in investing ininfrastructure and renewable energy in Vietnam.
She agreed to createfavourable conditions for Vietnam’s agro-aquatic products to enter the Spanish market, carry out the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) oneconomic, trade and investment cooperation signed in 2017 and set up a JointCommittee to create a mechanism for the periodic exchange of measures to remove obstacles and boost trade-investment ties.
Acknowledging Vietnam’sefforts for sustainable fishing development, she promised to work with other EUmember states to have the yellow card against Vietnam's seafood removed.
The two sides agreedto continue effectively realising the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)towards bringing two-way trade to 5 billion USD in the coming time, increase monitoring and promptly update on recommendations regarding technical requirements, quarantine, food hygieneand safety of each side.
They will accelerate theearly signing of the Financial Cooperation Programme 6 while reinforcingcollaboration in renewable energy, study the possibility of producing greenhydrogen, which is Spain's leading strength area.
Quang asked Spain toprovide training courses on tourism and technical assistance for Vietnam onsustainable tourism development and management.
Meanwhile, the Spanishminister affirmed that the potential for bilateral tourism cooperation remains huge. She promised to consider studying the possibility of opening a direct flight route to facilitate travelling of their citizens.
Following the meeting, the two officials co-chaired a seminar between Vietnamese and Spanish enterprises./.
