Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui ThanhSon on April 16 received Diego Martinez Belio, StateSecretary for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain, who is in Vietnam to co-chair thefifth political consultation between the two countries.

Lauding the significant strides in bilateral relations, Minister Son stated that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to promotecooperation with Spain, the first strategic partner of Vietnam in the European Union(EU).

He asked the two sides to increase high-level mutual visits andmeetings, maintain the frequency of the political consultation at the deputyministerial level, and coordinate to review and upgrade the memorandum of understandingon cooperation between the two foreign ministries along with the joint actionplan of the two governments.

Son recommended the countries continue to fruitfully implement the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to soon raise bilateral trade from4 billion USD at present to 5 billion USD. He also called on Spain to promotethe remaining EU countries’ ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment ProtectionAgreement (EVIPA), as well as the European Commission’s early removal of the “yellowcard” warning over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing forVietnam.

The minister also voiced his hope that the Government and enterprisesof Spain will seize opportunities to cooperate with Vietnam in human resources training,institutional building, and infrastructure development, which are the threestrategic breakthroughs the Southeast Asian nation is targeting.

Expressing delight at his visit to Vietnam and the resumption ofthe political consultation after seven years, Belio affirmed Vietnam is a leadingpriority of Spain in Southeast Asia and that his country hopes to further strengthenbilateral cooperation.

He pledged close coordination with the Vietnamese side to step up delegationexchanges, soon renew the MoU between the two foreign ministries, including fosteringthe collaboration between the countries’ diplomatic academies, and update thecountries’ joint action plan.

The State Secretary expressed Spain’s wish to enhance ties withVietnam in terms of transport infrastructure, renewable energy, and education,including promoting the teaching of the Spanish language in Vietnam. He also statedthat his country will strengthen bilateral connections in the fields of science- technology, culture, sports, and tourism.

Withregard to international and regional issues, both host and guest agreed thattheir countries will maintain coordination and mutual support at internationaland regional forums such as the United Nations and the ASEAN - EU cooperation.

They shared the viewpoint of respecting law and supporting ASEANand Vietnam’s stance on the peaceful settlement of sea-related issues on thebasis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of theSea (UNCLOS).

Earlier on April 16, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le ThiThu Hang and State Secretary Belio co-chaired the fifthpolitical consultation between the two countries.

The two sides reviewedcooperation, identified orientations and measures for bolstering the Vietnam -Spain strategic partnership towards the future, and looked into someinternational and regional issues of shared concern.

Theyagreed to hold the sixth political consultation at the deputy ministerial levelin Spain in the time ahead./.