Spanish PM’s visit expected to offer good opportunities for cooperation with HCM City: Official
Describing HCM City as a young, dynamic, and fast-growing urban hub, Duoc emphasised the city’s strong interest in expanding partnerships with international businesses, including those from Spain.
Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc (right) and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) 🌼– Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s working visit to Ho Chi Minh City is expected to create valuable opportunities for effective cooperation between the city and Spain through concrete projects in potential areas, a municipal official has said.
Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc made the statement while receiving Prime Minister Sánchez at the Reunification Hall on April 10.
Congratulating the Spanish leader on his successful meetings with Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi and the signing of several key bilateral agreements, Duoc expressed his confidence that the visit would inject new momentum into trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Spain.
Regarding current cooperation, Duoc noted that Spain has invested in 44 projects in HCM City, with a total registered capital of 16.2 million USD. Bilateral trade has surpassed 400 million USD — a figure that reflects positive relations but still falls short of the two sides’ full potential, he said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (second from the right), Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang (first from the right) attend the Vietnam-Spain Business Forum on April 10(Photo: VNA)
Describing HCM City as a young, dynamic, and fast-growing urban hub, Duoc emphasised the city’s strong interest in expanding partnerships with international businesses, including those from Spain. He spoke highly of Spanish enterprises’ capabilities and experience, and identified several priority areas for cooperation: transport infrastructure, tourism, digital transformation, port development, clean energy, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Chairman reaffirmed HCM City’s commitment to providing the best possible conditions for Spanish companies to invest and operate successfully, contributing to advancing the Vietnam–Spain strategic partnership.
For his part, PM Sánchez extended his congratulations to Vietnam on the upcoming 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (1975–2025). He underlined the significance of his visit to Vietnam, the first-ever by a Spanish prime minister since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1977.
He shared that his meetings with Vietnamese leaders had yielded important results, including the signing of cooperation agreements across multiple sectors. These agreements, he said, underscored the shared determination to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in the near future.
PM Sánchez highlighted that Spain and Vietnam are among the most dynamic economies in the world and possess complementary strengths. He noted that Spain was the first EU country to ratify the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and continues to actively pursue stronger trade relations with ASEAN, particularly with Vietnam. Spanish businesses, he added, expect to contribute to Vietnam’s and HCM City’s development, especially in sectors where Spain holds expertise.
He also expressed his appreciation to the city’s leaders for supporting the successful organisation of the Vietnam–Spain Business Forum and for creating a favourable environment for Spanish companies currently operating in HCM City.
Earlier on the same day, PM Sánchez attended and delivered a speech at the Vietnam–Spain Business Forum./.
Highlighting the significance of the first-ever visit by a head of the Spanish government since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the Party chief believed that the visit will serve as a catalyst to elevate the bilateral Strategic Partnership to a new height, fostering prosperity and mutual benefits for both nations while contributing to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to further strengthen multifaceted cooperation with Spain – the first strategic partner of Vietnam in the EU, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated. He highly evaluated Spain for its significant achievements in socio-economic development and its active role in addressing global issues.
Spain's news agency Europa Press quoted PM Sánchez as stating that Vietnam is a rising power in Asia, playing an increasingly significant role on the international stage.
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Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
