Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam-Spain strategicpartnership has been reinforced in various fields throughout the years, fromeconomy, trade to culture exchange and education, enhancing the friendship betweentheir peoples.

Vietnam and Spain established diplomatic ties on May 23, 1977, and a strategicpartnership 32 years later during the visit to Spain in 2009 by PresidentNguyen Minh Triet.

Spain is one of Vietnam’s biggest EU trade partners and plays a vital role in solvinginternational issues. It also serves as an entrance to the Atlantic Ocean,which helps Vietnamese goods enter other European markets.

Spain’s support for Vietnam in fostering comprehensive relations with the EU andnegotiating the signing of a partnership and cooperation agreement with the bloc is vital to Vietnam’sintensive international economic integration efforts.

Meanwhile, Spain sees Vietnam as an emerging country, with a dynamic and increasinglyintegrated economy.

Vietnam is developing its economy in connection with promoting social fairness,and a successful model in realising UN Millennium Development Goals of povertyreduction and the effective use of development assistance. It is also a bridgeto connect Spain with other Southeast Asian nations.

The two countries have recorded increasing trade, with two-way trade hitting 2.9billion USD in 2016 and 835 million USD in the first four months of this year.

Vietnam mainly exports aquatic products, coffee, textiles, rice and footwear toSpain, while importing chemicals, machines, pharmaceuticals, milk, electronicsand spare parts.

As of April this year, Spain ranked 46th among 116 countries and territoriesinvesting in Vietnam with 59 projects in infrastructure development, renewableenergy, water supply, waste management, heritage conservation, tourism, and genderequality.

Spain is a crucial tourism market of Vietnam, with more than 58,000 Spanishtourists visiting the Southeast Asian nation in 2016, up 29 percent from 2015. Thanksto Vietnam’s visa exemption, airline links and strengthened partnerships among enterprises,the two countries have potential for closer tourism affiliation.

2017 marks an important milestone in Vietnam-Spain ties when the two sides willcelebrate the 40th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, which isexpected to boost the strategic partnership.-VNA