Vietnamese premier hosts welcome ceremony for Spanish counterpart

The visit, set to wrap up on Thursday, is made at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart.

The welcome ceremony was imbued with a warm atmosphere, as PM Chinh greeted his Spanish counterpart with great enthusiasm.

Vietnamese children waved the flags of both countries, and the Spanish leader was presented with a bouquet of fresh flowers by the young representatives from Hanoi.

Both leaders ascended the podium under the national flags of their respective countries, while military bands played the national anthems of Spain and Vietnam.

Afterward, they reviewed the honor guard of the Vietnam People’s Army before introducing the members of their high-level delegations to each other.

The leaders then returned to the podium to witness a formal military parade welcoming the Spanish delegation.

Following the official welcome ceremony, the two leaders proceeded to the Government Office to hold high-level talks.

The visit by the Spanish prime minister is a significant event, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Spain, celebrated in 2024, and just three years ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2027.

Spain was the first European Union (EU) member to establish a strategic partnership with Vietnam.

Spain ranks as Vietnam's fifth-largest trading partner within the EU, while Hanoi is Madrid's largest trading partner in ASEAN.

Bilateral trade reached a record US$4.72 billion in 2024, marking a 20-percent increase from the previous year.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to Spain Doan Thanh Song said that both countries are in a phase of unprecedented mutual benefit, creating an ideal environment to further enhance their strategic partnership.

“As the first country to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, Spain increasingly views Vietnam as a promising market for Spanish businesses,” he said.

Song highlighted that Spain’s newly-established office of commerce in Hanoi exemplifies the country’s commitment to solidifying economic ties with Vietnam.

Spain has invested in 96 projects in Vietnam, with a total capital of approximately US$144 million.

According to the ambassador, ahead of his visit, PM Sánchez emphasized that Vietnam has become a magnet for foreign investment and affirmed that thanks to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, Spanish companies, particularly leaders in infrastructure and renewable energy, will sound out significant business opportunities in Vietnam.

The presence of nearly 20 top Spanish companies accompanying PM Sánchez is expected to further boost the bilateral trade and economic relationship, especially in transport infrastructure, smart urban governance, renewable energy, and consumer goods.

Carmen Cano De Lasala, Spain's Ambassador to Vietnam, also underscored the visit would serve to reinforce the political commitment to furthering the cooperation between the two countries.

Born in 1972, Pedro Sánchez has been serving as Spain's prime minister since 2018. He is known for his commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam.

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.

During his ongoing official visit to Vietnam, Prime Minister Sánchez is set to hold talks with Prime Minister Chinh, along with high-level meetings with key leaders from Vietnam’s Party and state.