An Office for International Development Co-operation (TCO) under the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) was inaugurated in Hanoi on February 21.

The inauguration ceremony was held during Spanish King Juan Carlos's first official visit to Vietnam.

Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Gonzalo Ortiz said TCO of AECI under the Spanish Embassy in Vietnam will coordinate and implement co-operation resources under its jurisdiction. In addition, the office will co-operate with programmes and projects of other administrative agencies. It also has the task of coordinating Spanish development co-operation activities with other regional countries, including Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

The opening of TCO in Hanoi highlighted a strong commitment between Spain and Vietnam under a plan for comprehensive co-operation in the Asian region, with priority given to Vietnam.

According to Ambassador Gonzalo Ortiz, Spain will continue to put Vietnam high on its list of countries to receive preferential development assistance in Asia. Based on the overall cooperation strategy, the Spanish side has worked out a programme on development cooperation with Vietnam in the 2006-09 period in accordance with Vietnam's five-year and annual socio-economic development plans.