KINGDOM OF SPAIN
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I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION:
 Mane    Kindom of Spain
 Total Area   800.000 km2
Population   44 million (2009)
Capital   Madrid
GDP    1.438 tỷ USD (2009)
GDP per capital        33.700 USD (2009)
National day   12/10
Languages   Spanish (74%); Catalan (17%); Galician (7%); Basque (2%)
Religions   Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Head of State   King Juan Carlos (1975)
Prime Minister   José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (2004-2008, 2008-2012)
Minister of Foreign
Affair   Trinidad Jimenez (2004)
President of the Senate Javier Rojo (2004)
President of the Congress José Bono (2008)
II. HISTORY:
From the XV century, Spain became a world power and occupied colonies in America. In XIX century, with the emerge of new powers (the US, Germany, Italy..), Spain lost almost its colonies and her influence in the world and in Europe. In 1939, the Spanish Civil War ended and General Franco came in power. In 1975, General Franco died, King Juan Carlos became Head of State of Spain.
III. POLITICAL SYSTEM:
Spain is a constitutional monarchy country. 
1. The King: is the Head of State, Commander in Chief of the Spanish Army. However, the King has only symbolic power. 
2. Legislative branche: The Spanish Parliament consists of the Senate and the Congress of Diputies.
+ The Senate: 264 seats (as of 2008); 208 members directly elected by popular vote and the other 56 (as of 2008) appointed by the regional legislatures; Senate members serve four-year terms. Actualy, the Popular Party (PP) has 101 seats and the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) has 88 seats, other parties 18 seats and other 56 seats appointed by the regional legislatures.
+ Congress of Deputies: has the most legislative power. It has 350 seats; each of the 50 electoral provinces fills a minimum of two seats and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla fill one seat each; the other 248 members are determined by proportional representation based on popular vote on block lists. Those members serve a four-year term. Actually, the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) has 169 seats, the Popular Party has 153 seats, Entesa Catalona de Progress CiU has 10 seats, The Basque National Party PNV has 6 seats, other 12 seats.
3. Executive branche:
+ President of the Government (Prime Minister): is the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition, he is usually proposed President of the Government by the King and elected by the National Assembly.
+ Cabinet: designated by the President, normaly from 18-22 members.
4. Autonomous Governments:
Spain has 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities. According to the Spainish Constitution of 1978, the autonomous government enjoys a certain degree of indendendence from the Central Government, some of them (Catalonia, Basque) excercise the the total authority in health care and education matters.
IV. ECONOMY:
Spain is one of the top ten biggest economies in the world. Spanish has strength in areas such as infrastructure, telecomunication, energy, ship building and agriculture (olives, wine grapes).
Spain is the second largest tourist destination in the world (52 million visiters in 2009) and the tourism industry constributes nearly 12% of the Spanish GDP. 
Spain is one of the country heavilly afected by the international finalcial crisis.  The Spanish economy is shrank nearly - 3,7% and the unemploiment rate is nearly 19%.  In 2010, Spanish GDP of the First, Second and Third Quarter rose modestly 0,2% compare to the previous one; GDP of 2010 is expected to grown 0,3%. The public debt will be controlled at 66% in 2010, will increase up to 75% in 2011. Unemployment will remain very high at 20% as a result of real estate market slowdown.
- Currency  : Euro
- GDP  : 1.438 tỷ USD (2009)
- GDP per capital : 33.700 USD (2009)
- GDP composition by sectors  services: 69.6%, industry: 26.9%, agriculture: 3.4%
- GDP real growth  :  -3,7 % (2009)
- Inflation  :  0,6 % (2009),
- Unemploiment  : 19% (2009).
V. FOREIGN POLICY:
Spain attaches special importance to the relations with Europe and the United States. The second area of priority is the Latin-America region; Asia – Pacific and Africa come in third and fourth place. Spain actively participate in solving global  chalenges such as the Middle East Peace Process, the climate change, the nuclear disarmament... In the Plan for Asia-Pacific 2008-2012, Spain affirmed that this region would become one of the world center in the XXI century where Spain has to increase her presence. Concerning Africa, Spain gives priority in helping African countries in reducing poverty, social equality, and building democracy.
                                 December,  2010

VIETNAM – SPAIN RELATIONS
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I. POLITICAL RELATIONS:
Vietnam and Spain established diplomatic relation in July 1977.
Recently, the two sides have exchanged visits regularly, especially high level visits such as the visit of His Majesty the King Juan Carlos and Her Majesty the Queen Sofia to Vietnam in February, the visit of the President of Vietnam to Spain in December 2009.
During the visit of the President of Vietnam to Spain in December 2009, both sides dicided to establish « the forward looking strategic partnership » relations.
II. ECONOMIC RELATIONS:
Bilateral trade: bilateral trade volume reached 860 millions US Dollars in 2007, nearly 1200 millions US Dollars in 2008 and 2009 and 915 millions US Dollars after nine months of 2010.
The main Vietnamese export products to Spain are: aquatic products, coffee, footwear and garment.
Investment : Spain has 17 projects worth 21 millions US Dollars in Vietnam in the area of garment and construction materials.
III. COOPERATION DEVELOPMENT RELATIONS:
Spain put Vietnam in the list of priority countries for Cooperation for Development in 2008-2012 period. In the 4th Financial Programme, Spain commited to provide 65 millions Euro for Vietnam, which would be used in infrastructure, energy, telecomunication and water management projects in Vietnam.
IV. TOURISM, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL RELATIONS: 
Tourism: recently, cooperation between the two countries have achieved encouraging result. The Vietnamese side participated and organized several tourist promotion activities in Fairs, Seminars, Workshops in Spain like the Expo Razagoza 2008.
Culture: in July 2006, Vietnam and Spain signed Agreement on Cooperation in Culture, Education and Science. Since then, both sides have worked together to organize activites such as: The Vietnam Days in Madrid and Barcelona in October 2005 and during the visit of the President of Vietnam to Spain in December 2009, the Performance of Flamenco Dance in Vietnam. In 2010, Spain has participated in the 1000 Anniversary of the Establishment of Thang Long – Ha Noi
Education: during the past time, bilateral cooperation in educational area has achieved positive results, however, it still mainly concentrates on training Spainish language. In 2005, The  Faculty of Spanish Language was established in Hanoi University and it has been receiving teaching and learning materals from the Spanish side. There are two Spainish teachers in the Faculty.
V. BILATERAL AGREEMENT:
10/2001   Basic Cooperation Agreement.
4/2002  MOU of Cooperation in tourism.
3/2005  Agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance
7/2005  Agreement of Cooperation on Culture, Education and Science.
10/2005  MOU of Cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce of the two countries.
02/2006  Agreement on Investment Protection and Encouragement; MOU on Cooperation on producing Vietnamese-Spanish Dictionary; MOU on Cooperation between Vietnam News Agency and Spanish News Agency.
12/2007  Agreement on Adoption.
12/2009  1. The Joint Plan of Action in which the two sides established the « Forward looking strategic partnership » relations; 2. Agreement on Visa Excemption for Diplomatic Passport Holders.
5/2010 MOU on Transport Infrastructure Cooperation   
                                                       December, 2010