Viet Nam, Spain hold fifth political consultation
VGP - Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain Diego Martínez Belío co-chaired the fifth political consultation between the two countries in Ha Noi on April 16.
The two sides reviewed cooperation, identified orientations and measures to boost the Viet Nam - Spain strategic partnership towards the future (2009-2024), and looked into some international and regional issues of shared concern.
Regarding trade and investment, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang suggested the two countries fully and effectively implement the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
She took the occasion to thank Spain for early ratification of the EU – Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and proposed Spain to promote the remaining EU countries to pass the document soon.
The Vietnamese official also suggested the European Commission’s early removal of the “yellow card” warning over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing for Viet Nam.
They shared the viewpoint of respecting law and supporting ASEAN and Viet Nam's stance on the peaceful settlement of sea-related issues on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The pair agreed to hold the sixth political consultation at the deputy ministerial level in Spain in the time ahead.
* The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received the Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs./.