Vietnam and Spain have agreed to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation at international forums and organisations, including the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), to cope with global challenges such as climate change, energy and food security.

The agreement was reached during the talks between Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in Madrid on December 15.

The two sides also agreed to closely cooperate in boosting the ASEAN-EU relations and strengthening each country’s relationship with the two regional organsiations, especially when Vietnam will assume the ASEAN Chair in 2010 and Spain will undertake the EU Presidency in the first six months of next year.

President Triet highlighted Vietnam’s decision to participate in the “Alliance of Civilisations” under Spain’s initiative and PM Zapatero welcomed the decision.

At the talks, the Spanish PM praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and affirmed that Vietnam is a successful model in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), reducing poverty and using official development assistance (ODA).

Spain supports Vietnam in strengthening its comprehensive relationship with the European Union (EU) and negotiating on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the EU, he said.

He affirmed that Spain sees Vietnam as an emerging economy so it is interested in developing the multi-faceted relationship with the Southeast Asian country.

The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the developing bilateral ties in all aspects with two-way trade increasing over 25 percent within the past five years.

The two sides agreed on measures to raise the bilateral cooperation to a new height in the coming time, especially building a strategic partnership towards the future.

After the talks, State President Triet and PM Zapatero witnessed the signing of the “Joint Action Programme between the Governments of Vietnam and Spain”, defining the strategic partnership towards the future between the two countries.

Memoranda of understanding on scientific and technological cooperation, social cooperation, capital provision for the construction of a metro in Ho Chi Minh City and the list of prioritised projects for the fourth financial programme were also inked.

Previously, State President Nguyen Minh Triet delivered a speech before parliamentarians who represent the Upper and Lower Houses of the Spanish Parliament.

On the December 15 morning, the President attended the Vietnam-Spain business forum.

Speaking at the forum, President Triet affirmed future cooperation between Vietnam and Spain, especially in economics, trade and investment which will develop with many advantages. He added that Spain has a lot of opportunities to widen its relations with Asia, an important region in the development map of the world.

President Triet said that Vietnam desires to strengthen cooperation with Spain to attract more investment with high skills into Vietnam as well as learn experiences in the field from Spain.

He emphasised his belief that Spanish investors will make more investments in Vietnam, not only in economics but also in culture, society and other fields.

On the sidelines of the forum, President Triet met with Spain’s leading entrepreneurs who are deploying projects in Vietnam in the fields of energy, electricity and infrastructure.

On the same day, President Triet laid wreath at the war monument in Madrid.

On the occasion, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem worked with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miguel Angel Moratinos. The two sides inked an agreement between the two governments on visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders; and Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation between the two ministries as well as in the fields of labour and social insurance.