(VOVWORLD) -Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said Vietnam is determined to work with Spain in raising the future-oriented strategic partnership between the two countries to a new stage of development, to contribute to economic recovery and sustainable development.
 Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang shakes hands with President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Meritxell Batet. Photo: VGP/Hai Minh |
Deputy PM Quang met with President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Meritxell Batet in Madrid on Wednesday as part of the Deputy PM's official visit to the European country.
Batet said Spain wants to enhance multifaceted ties with Vietnam, as well as the comprehensive partnership and cooperation between the EU and Vietnam, especially when her country will hold the EU Council Presidency in the latter half of 2023.
She recognized Vietnam’s efforts, pledging support to persuade the European Council to soon lift the IUU fishing warning for Vietnam’s fishery exports.
Deputy PM Quang asked Spain to push for other EU countries’ parliaments’ ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), thus facilitating equal and mutually beneficial investment links between the two sides and helping create optimal conditions for Spanish firms to operate in Vietnam.
At the meeting, both host and guest agreed to step up mutual visits, including those between specialized committees of the two parliaments to share legislative information and experience, and support stronger ties at multilateral forums like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) meeting.
They voiced their belief that the cooperation between the Vietnamese and Spanish parliaments will continue enjoying positive strides both in bilateral aspects and at multilateral forums.
The two sides also concurred in continuing to strongly promote the pillar of investment and trade; expanding cooperation to potential fields such as culture, sports, tourism, education - training, and agriculture; and jointly responding to global issues like food security and climate change.
They affirmed the support for guaranteeing security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight, and for peacefully resolving disputes in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).