Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, known for his commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam, is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Southeast Asian country from April 8 to 10, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visit is being made at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, according to the ministry's announcement on Saturday.

Born in 1972, Pedro Sánchez has been serving as Spain's prime minister since 2018.

He previously met PM Chinh during the ASEAN-European Union Summit in Belgium in December 2022 and at the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024.

This visit takes place amid the ongoing positive development of bilateral relations between Vietnam and Spain, which established diplomatic ties on May 23, 1977.

Bilateral relations have developed fruitfully since then, and the two nations elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership toward the future in December 2009, making Spain the first EU country to establish such a partnership with Vietnam.

PM Sánchez’s upcoming visit is anticipated to further strengthen multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Spain, fostering deeper ties in various sectors.

Spain ranks as Vietnam's fifth-largest trading partner within the European Union, while Vietnam is Spain's largest trading partner in ASEAN.

In 2024, their trade reached US$4.72 billion, marking a 20-percent increase from 2023 and setting a new record high.

The export-import structures of both countries are complementary, minimizing direct competition.

Currently, Spain has invested in 97 projects in Vietnam, with a total capital of approximately $143.88 million, ranking 46th among 148 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian country, focusing on processing, manufacturing, accommodation, and food services.

Conversely, Vietnamese investors have initiated three projects in Spain, totaling $64.2 million, concentrating on scientific research and manufacturing.

In January 2022, Spain ratified the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, further solidifying the investment ties between the two nations.

Vietnam and Spain have signed several collaboration agreements, including one on tourism cooperation in April 2002 and another on cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation in June 2005.

Both countries have actively organized various exchange activities, cultural events, art performances, film screenings, exhibitions, and tourism promotion.

​Spain has pledged over US$1 billion in official development assistance and non-refundable aid to Vietnam, primarily through five financial cooperation programs in infrastructure, healthcare, and gender equality promotion, according to news site Vietnamnet.

Notably, during the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in 2010, Spain sponsored the renovation of a hotel of the Hanoi People's Committee in Spanish architectural style and participated in the 'Con duong gom su' (Ceramic Road) project in the Vietnamese capital.

Vietnam unilaterally exempts Spanish citizens from visa requirements for stays of up to 45 days. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed approximately 91,400 Spanish tourists.

Currently, around 5,000 Vietnamese nationals reside in Spain, primarily engaged in small businesses, and have successfully integrated into the local community.​

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