Ambassador Fernando Cursio Ruigomez stated that the visit to Spain by Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet last December was a factor in boosting ties and a foundation to concretise cooperation between the two governments, and implement signed agreements.

During that visit, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding that Spain will provide EUR500 million to a project to build a metro route in Ho Chi Minh City.

Spain has been cooperating with Vietnam in the spheres of production, the environment, gender, culture and administrative reform, with priority being given to northern and central regions. Noteworthy is a programme to fund poverty reduction, which has so far brought EUR23.5 million to Vietnam.

In 2010, the Spanish Embassy in Vietnam will focus its cultural cooperation on the celebrations around the 1,000th anniversary of the Thang Long-Hanoi capital city and the 2010 Hue Festival with a funding of between EUR50,000-100,000.