During the 3rd United Nations Ocean Summit (UNOC 3) held in Nice, France, on June 9, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a heartfelt meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. This reunion came just a couple of months after Pedro Sanchez’s official visit to Vietnam in April 2025, reflecting the close and growing bond between the two nations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh warmly passed on greetings from Vietnam’s top leaders, including General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, highlighting the deep respect and friendship Vietnam holds for Spain.
Vietnam values Spain as its very first Strategic Partner within the European Union, and Prime Minister Chinh expressed a strong desire to expand cooperation in many areas. The two leaders shared an open and trusting dialogue about making the partnership between Vietnam and Spain more practical and impactful for both countries.
Economic collaboration remains a cornerstone of their relationship. They agreed to actively implement the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and a newly signed protocol on financial cooperation. Plans are underway to hold the first session of the Joint Committee on Economics, Trade, and Investment later this year, aiming to boost bilateral trade beyond $8 billion.
Prime Minister Chinh also asked Spain to help speed up the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in the European Parliament and to support Vietnam in addressing challenges related to seafood exports. He emphasized the importance of opening markets to each other, diversifying supply chains, and reducing dependency on any single market.
One of the most exciting highlights of their discussion was cooperation on high-speed rail development. Vietnam is eager to learn from Spain’s expertise, and Spain, with the world’s second-longest high-speed railway network, warmly welcomed the idea of a Vietnamese working group visiting to share knowledge and technology, as well as support training human resources.
Prime Minister Sanchez echoed the importance of solidarity and collaboration, especially in today’s interconnected world. He pledged Spain’s readiness to deepen ties with Vietnam and invited Prime Minister Chinh to Spain’s upcoming 4th High-Level Conference on Finance for Development, signaling a future full of promising cooperation.
Beyond economic matters, the two leaders also focused on global priorities—working together on sustainable development, protecting our oceans, and maintaining peace and stability, especially in sensitive maritime regions like the East Sea. Both affirmed their commitment to respect international laws, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
This meeting wasn’t just a diplomatic formality—it was a genuine step forward in a partnership built on trust, shared goals, and a hopeful vision for the future.
