Madrid (VNA) – The VietnameseParty and State attach great importance to the strategic partnership withSpain, especially in economy, trade and investment, Politburo member and Secretaryof Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Van Binh has said.

During his working trip to Spain on September23-24, Binh, also head of the CPV Central Committee’s Economic Commission, hadworking sessions with Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Maria ReyesMaroto Illera and Secretary General of the Treasury and Financial Policy underthe Ministry of Economy and Business Affairs Carlos San Basilio Pardo.

He thanked Spain for supporting the signing ofthe EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the EU-Vietnam Investment ProtectionAgreement, and asked the Spanish government andparliament to back the ratification of the two deals at the EuropeanParliament. 

The official expressed his belief that afterratification, the two agreements will make it easier for Vietnam and Spain toboost cooperation, increasing Spain’s investment in Vietnam in infrastructure,renewable energy, tourism, and sewage treatment.

The Spanish side said Vietnam is an importantand reliable partner of Spain and pledged to create favourable conditions andprovide financial support for Spanish major groups and small- and medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs) to invest in Vietnam.

While working with the Elcano Royal Institute, aleading strategic research agency in Spain, Binh informed the Spanish side ofactions violating the legal and legitimate rights of Vietnam in its exclusiveeconomic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea, and asked Spain to supportVietnam in this issue.

Director of the institute Charles Powell sharedthe difficulties Vietnam is encountering in addressing complicated issues inthe East Sea, and affirmed Spain’s viewpoint to support the use ofinternational law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law ofthe Sea (UNCLOS), to settle territorial disputes.

Speaking at the Vietnam-Spain business forumwith the participation of more than 50 Spanish businesses operating orinterested in investment in Vietnam, Binh introduced Vietnam’s potential withpolitical stability, strong market and status as a gateway to many major globalmarkets.

While meeting with Secretary-General of theSpanish Communist Party Enrique Santiago Romero and representative from theUnited Left (IU), Binh said the Vietnamese Party, State and people alwaysremember the valuable support of the Spanish Communist Party in the cause ofnational liberation and building and defence.

He hoped to further boost relations with theSpanish Communist Party and IU, and asked the Spanish Communist Party to pushthe European Parliament to ratify the two agreements for the benefits of thetwo countries’ workers./.