Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to start an official visit to Vietnam from April 8 to 10 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

Prime Minister Sánchez is the first Spanish head of government to pay an official visit to Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1977. This is also the first visit to Vietnam by a senior Spanish leader since King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia visited the country in 2006.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PM Sánchez holds a positive view of Vietnam and has expressed a desire to deepen the Vietnam–Spain Strategic Partnership. He previously met Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the ASEAN–EU Summit in Belgium (December 2022) and the G20 Summit in Brazil (November 2024).

The visit comes as Vietnam and Spain mark the 15th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership in 2024 and look ahead to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2027.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Spain Doan Thanh Song noted that PM Sánchez’s decision to choose Vietnam and China as his first Asian destinations in 2025 shows Spain’s strong commitment to enhancing ties with Vietnam.

In recent years, Vietnam and Spain have achieved positive outcomes in cooperation across multiple fields, including politics, trade and investment, culture, defence and security, education and training, and transportation. Political and diplomatic ties have served as the foundation of the Vietnam–Spain Strategic Partnership. Both nations maintain regular exchanges of delegations at all levels, helping build a strong and comprehensive relationship.

Spain is currently Vietnam’s fifth-largest trading partner in the EU, while Vietnam is Spain’s largest trading partner in ASEAN. In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$4.72 billion, up 20% from 2023 and marking the highest figure to date. The structure of exports and imports between the two countries is complementary, with little direct competition.

In terms of investment, Spain has 97 projects in Vietnam worth a total of US$143.88 million, mostly in manufacturing, accommodation, and food services. Meanwhile, Vietnam has three investment projects in Spain in scientific research, technology, and manufacturing, with total capital of US$64.2 million.

In 2022, Spain ratified the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). The country has also pledged over US$1 billion in ODA loans and non-refundable aid to Vietnam through five major financial cooperation programs, focusing on infrastructure, sustainable development, gender equality, healthcare, and science and technology.

Vietnam currently grants unilateral visa exemptions to Spanish citizens for stays of up to 45 days. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed 91,400 Spanish tourists. Meanwhile, around 5,000 Vietnamese nationals are living in the Southern European nation. The two sides have jointly organised various cultural and artistic exchanges, film screenings, exhibitions, and tourism promotion activities.

During his official visit, PM Sánchez is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and meet with senior Party and State leaders of Vietnam.

Ambassador Doan Thanh Song said that several bilateral cooperation documents are expected to be signed during the visit. PM Sánchez will also engage in important activities in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam, Spain seek to enhance cooperation in cadre training

Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) Nguyen Xuan Thang received new Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Carmen Cano de Lasala in Hanoi on August 29.