HANOI: The leaders of Spain and Vietnam pledged on Wednesday to upgrade ties to the highest level, as the two countries attempt to manage the fallout from enormous tariffs imposed by Washington. During a visit by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Hanoi, he and counterpart Pham Minh Chinh signed a joint declaration aiming to elevate ties to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership.
Sanchez said Spain was committed to an international order based on rules, "free trade and economic freedom". "Trade wars benefit no one, but harm everyone," he said. "In a global context as complex as the one we are in, the Spanish government is firmly committed to the opening up of our country and Europe to Southeast Asia," he added.
Chinh said Vietnam had proposed Spain be "a bridge to promote our relationship with the EU and Latin American countries (and), for its part, Vietnam agrees to be a bridge to strengthen the relationship between Spain and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian nations)". On Wednesday, Sanchez also met Vietnam's top leader, To Lam. — AFP
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