Politburo member and Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyễn Văn Bình (second from left) presents gift to Secretary-General of the Spanish Communist Party Enrique Santiago Romero (second from right). — VNA/VNS Photo Toàn Trí

MADRID — The Vietnamese Party and State attach great importance to the strategic partnership with Spain, especially in economy, trade and investment, Politburo member and Secretary of Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyễn Văn Bình has said.
During his working trip to Spain which ended on Tuesday, Bình, also head of the CPV Central Committee’s Economic Commission, had working sessions with Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Maria Reyes Maroto Illera and Secretary General of the Treasury and Financial Policy under the Ministry of Economy and Business Affairs Carlos San Basilio Pardo.
He thanked Spain for supporting the signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement and the EU-Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement, and asked the Spanish government and parliament to back the ratification of the two deals at the European Parliament. 
The official expressed his belief that after ratification, the two agreements will make it easier for Việt Nam and Spain to boost cooperation, increasing Spain’s investment in Vietnam in infrastructure, renewable energy, tourism, and sewage treatment.
The Spanish side said Viet Nam is an important and reliable partner of Spain and pledged to create favourable conditions and provide financial support for Spanish major groups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest in Vietnam.
While working with the Elcano Royal Institute, a leading strategic research agency in Spain, Bình informed the Spanish side of actions violating the legal and legitimate rights of Việt Nam in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea, and asked Spain to support Việt Nam in this issue.
Director of the institute Charles Powell shared the difficulties Vietnam is encountering in addressing complicated issues in the East Sea, and affirmed Spain’s viewpoint to support the use of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to settle territorial disputes.
Speaking at the Việt Nam-Spain business forum with the participation of more than 50 Spanish businesses operating or interested in investment in Việt Nam, Bình introduced Việt Nam’s potential with political stability, strong market and status as a gateway to many major global markets.
While meeting with Secretary-General of the Spanish Communist Party Enrique Santiago Romero and representatives from the United Left (IU), Bình said the Vietnamese Party, State and people always remember the valuable support of the Spanish Communist Party in the cause of national liberation and building and defence.
He hoped to further boost relations with the Spanish Communist Party and IU, and asked the Spanish Communist Party to push the European Parliament to ratify the two agreements for the benefits of the two countries’ workers. — VNS