Text and photos: Juan David Latorre
Last Thursday, the Embassy of Vietnam celebrated the 80th anniversary of the independence of this Asian socialist republic, led by Ambassador Doan Thanh Song.
“Eighty years ago, in historic Barim Square, President Ho Chi Minh Suu Kyi spearheaded the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Today, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the first people’s democratic state in Southeast Asia,” Ambassador Doan Thanh Song began his speech.
“Since that historic moment,” he continued, “the Vietnamese state and people have fought tirelessly to defend the independence, sovereignty, territory, national self-determination, freedom, and happiness of the people. From a war-torn and deeply divided country, Vietnam has emerged as a middle-income country, successfully achieving the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in poverty reduction, healthcare, education, and gender equality. The country’s political and social stability has been maintained. Defense and security are maintained. Foreign relations and international integration are deepening. Now, we are making every effort for a new, clearer, and more prosperous Vietnam.”
“Since its 31st action,” Doan Thanh Song noted, “Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 nations and developed a network of strategic and comprehensive partnerships with 38 countries, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. It is an active member of more than 70 international and regional organizations.” It has been a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council twice, hosted APEC twice, with the third to follow in 2027. And it has chaired ASEAN three times. This October, we will hold the signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi. These achievements reflect the courage and independence of self-reliant nations, steadfast in upholding justice and always ready to cooperate based on national interest, international law, equality, and mutual benefit.”
“Vietnam is now a highly open economy, with a young and dynamic market of more than 100 million people,” the Vietnamese ambassador noted. “With favorable trade conditions, by 2023, the economy will have grown 96-fold compared to 1986, and per capita GDP will have increased 18-fold. The average growth rate between 1986 and 2023 was 6.4% per year.” Vietnam currently ranks 34th in the world in terms of GDP and is among the top 20 economies in terms of trade and acceptance of foreign investment. With the largest improvement in the global business environment over the past 20 years, Vietnam also boasts an interconnected network of mutual interests, ample development space with 17 FTAs and 50 partners, and is a leading economic and trade hub. Furthermore, it is one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the region, with an annual growth rate of 28%, and is among the 10 fastest-growing e-commerce markets in the world.
“By 2030, Vietnam will be a developing country with an upper-middle-class income. By 2045, Vietnam will become a developed, high-income country, a strong and prosperous nation. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Vietnam’s development is inseparable from a peaceful and stable environment in the region and around the world. Today, as we celebrate Vietnam’s National Day, we also celebrate the friendship and collaboration with Spain and our partners around the world. We are committed to being a good friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community, and we stand ready to work with other countries to foster peace, stability, and friendship toward a world of sustainable and inclusive development,” the Vietnamese ambassador emphasized.
Regarding bilateral relations with Spain, Ambassador Doan Thanh Song emphasized that “the year 2025 also marks notable progress in relations between Vietnam and Spain. For the first time since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1977, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez paid an official visit to Vietnam. This was also the first official visit to Vietnam by a Spanish head of state or government in 19 years, following the visit of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia in 2006. During the visit, numerous documents were signed to promote cooperation between Spain and Vietnam, particularly in the areas of agriculture, food security, education, culture, sport, infrastructure, investment, tourism, science, and technology. Two months later, our Deputy Prime Minister, Ho Duc Phoc, visited Spain for his participation in the Fourth United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development. His visit implemented the joint declaration of President Sánchez’s visit and further promoted cooperation in areas such as finance, infrastructure, rail transport, logistics, urban planning, green and renewable energy, digital transformation, the marine economy, agribusiness, the food industry, and tourism.
“Economic cooperation remains a fundamental pillar of our bilateral relations,” noted the Vietnamese ambassador. “Spain is now Vietnam’s eighth largest trading partner within the EU, while Vietnam has become Spain’s largest trading partner in ASEAN.” Vietnam’s bilateral trade has grown steadily, between 15% and 20% annually, rising from US$1.2 billion in early 2010 to US$4.72 billion in 2024. Vietnam mainly exports phones and components, steel, textiles, and food items to Spain, while it imports pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals, and plastic raw materials for domestic production.”
The event was continued by Luis Fonseca, Director General for North America, Asia and the Pacific, Environment, and Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, who noted: “This anniversary is not only a time to celebrate Vietnam’s Independence Day, but also its history, culture, and people, as today we celebrate the 80th anniversary of its independence and the 50th anniversary of its reunification. This can be a good opportunity to reflect on peace, multilateralism, and solidarity, three fundamental values that Spain and Vietnam share and promote in our international agenda.” Also in 2027, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations. Vietnam and Spain, despite the geographical distance, share a common vision, a firm belief in multilateralism, respect for international law, a commitment to cultural diversity, and a shared determination to cooperate to address current global challenges.”
“Our two countries,” the Director-General continued, “maintain excellent diplomatic relations. Our trade exchanges show a positive trend and great potential. We hope that the upcoming Joint Commission, which will meet here in Madrid on the 28th of this month, will represent another opportunity to further deepen our economic ties and partnerships. Our social and cultural exchanges are also growing. In April, during Prime Minister Sánchez’s visit, we signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural and sports cooperation. Sport can undoubtedly help build bridges and create deeper ties between us. Spanish football, in particular, has a large following in Vietnam, and we are happy to celebrate this, without asking them which team they support.” Furthermore, there is a growing interest and appetite for Vietnamese culture in Spain, for its stunning landscapes, its delicious cuisine, and the hospitality of the Spanish people. This desire to discover the many treasures that Vietnam offers has allowed Spain to become the leading European country in terms of the number of visitors to Vietnam.”
Luis Fonseca then spoke about Ukraine and Gaza. “Spain,” he emphasized, “condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the geopolitical consequences of which affect the entire world, including Asia. Regarding Gaza, we continue to call for an end to the humanitarian crisis, a ceasefire, and efforts to implement the two-state solution. We all know that today’s world faces challenges ranging from climate change to geopolitical and economic tensions, digital transformation, and health threats. Now more than ever, we need countries that build bridges, promote genuine cooperation, and foster mutual understanding. In this regard, I firmly believe that Vietnam and Spain work hand in hand.”
