Hanoi, April 9, 2025 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Wednesday morning presided over a red-carpet welcome ceremony in Hanoi for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is undertaking an official visit to Vietnam from April 8 to 10.
This historic visit marks the first by a Spanish Prime Minister to Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1977, and the first official visit by a high-ranking Spanish leader in nearly two decades, following the 2006 visit of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
Expressing his delight at the reunion, PM Chính recalled his previous meeting with PM Sánchez on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024, underscoring the continued momentum in Việt Nam–Spain relations.
Following the welcoming ceremony, the two leaders toured a photo exhibition highlighting the enduring friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Spain, as well as the culture and landscapes of both countries. They then commenced official talks.
During his stay, PM Sánchez is scheduled to hold meetings with key leaders of Vietnam’s Party, State, and National Assembly, and participate in other significant activities in Hanoi and Hồ Chí Minh City.
Over the past 48 years, bilateral relations have flourished, particularly since the establishment of the Strategic Partnership towards the Future in 2009. The relationship is anchored in mutual trust and understanding, with frequent high-level exchanges and close coordination in multilateral forums, especially within the United Nations and ASEAN-EU frameworks.
Economic and trade ties between the two nations have recorded notable achievements. Since the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into force in August 2020, bilateral trade has seen steady growth. Spain ratified the EU-Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in January 2022, further reinforcing investment protection mechanisms.
In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$4.72 billion, cementing Spain’s position as Vietnam’s fifth-largest trading partner within the EU, while Vietnam is Spain’s largest trade partner in ASEAN. As of January 2025, Spain had 97 active projects in Vietnam with a total investment of $143.9 million, ranking it 46th among foreign investors in the country. Conversely, Vietnam maintains three investment projects in Spain, worth $64.2 million. Spain also considers Vietnam a priority country for development cooperation, having committed over $1 billion in official development assistance and non-refundable aid across six cooperation programmes.
In the field of education and training, cooperation has focused on language learning, with support from the Cervantes Institute and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). Between 1998 and 2018, Spain awarded 285 scholarships to Vietnamese students.
Cultural, sports, and tourism collaboration has also been nurtured through a variety of bilateral agreements, cultural exchange events, and tourism promotions. Spanish citizens benefit from a 45-day visa exemption when visiting Việt Nam. In 2024, the country welcomed 91,400 Spanish tourists. The Vietnamese community in Spain, numbering approximately 5,000, is predominantly composed of small business owners who have integrated well into Spanish society.
The official visit by Prime Minister Sánchez holds great significance, underscoring Spain’s commitment to deepening its multifaceted cooperation with Việt Nam. The visit is expected to bolster diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people ties, while laying the groundwork for elevating the bilateral relationship to new heights with concrete and effective results.
During talks, the two sides are expected to discuss measures to strengthen political trust and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest, including politics and diplomacy, trade and investment, science and technology, infrastructure, urban transport, sustainable development, and renewable energy. Several important cooperation agreements are anticipated to be signed during the visit.
