During a working visit to Spain from November 5 to 7, a delegation from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Public Security, led by Senior Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security, held talks with Ángel Luis Ortiz González, Secretary General for Penitentiary Institutions at Spain’s Ministry of the Interior. The delegation also met with the Port Authority of Barcelona.
Sharing experience in prison management
At their meeting on November 5, Deputy Minister Le Van Tuyen and Secretary General Ortiz González discussed the responsibilities and organizational structures of their respective prison authorities and shared experience in managing correctional facilities.
Deputy Minister Le Van Tuyen and Mr. Ángel Luis Ortiz González discuss opportunities for future cooperation.
Deputy Minister Le Van Tuyen said Viet Nam’s Ministry of Public Security prioritizes safety and security in correctional facilities and works to improve legal education, vocational training and healthcare for inmates, while supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. He outlined the ministry’s plans to develop smart prisons and introduce open prison models that incorporate vocational training and career guidance. The ministry is also exploring ways to supervise people serving sentences at home.
As part of its digital transformation, the ministry is updating prison management practices, expanding the use of technology and strengthening staff capacity.
Deputy Minister Le Van Tuyen presents a commemorative gift to Mr. Ángel Luis Ortiz González.
Mr. Ángel Luis Ortiz González presents a commemorative gift to Deputy Minister Le Van Tuyen.
Ortiz González said Spain operates three types of facilities: standard prisons, open prisons that support reintegration, and facilities for women with young children. He said this system allows prison authorities to tailor corrections and rehabilitation programs to individual inmates.
Deputy Minister Le Van Tuyen commended Spain’s open prison model and proposed more delegation exchanges at various levels, joint training for prison correctional staff and closer cooperation on the use of technology in prison management and inmate education, including data management and monitoring systems.
He also called on the two sides to move quickly to negotiate and sign an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons to provide a legal framework for cooperation in enforcing criminal sentences.
Strengthening port security cooperation
On November 6, acting under delegated authority, the Ministry of Public Security delegation met with the Port Authority of Barcelona and toured the Port of Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading logistics hubs.
The port authority's representatives described how the port management works with local law enforcement agencies. Sharing data across agencies helps identify irregularities in customs declarations and container movements early, supporting efforts to prevent smuggling and the shipment of prohibited goods by sea. The port also uses technology and automation to handle cargo and manage its movement, improving efficiency and helping to manage operational risks.
Senior Colonel Tran Viet Trung, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Public Security’s Department of Foreign Relations, presents a commemorative gift to a representative of the Port of Barcelona’s leadership on behalf of the delegation.
The delegation commended the Port of Barcelona for using technology to improve operations while maintaining safety and security across the organizations that work at the port. It asked the port authority to share its experience in managing and operating a smart port and proposed cooperation on deploying technology, training personnel and exchanging experts. The delegation also suggested exploring solutions for monitoring, early warning and cybersecurity at port facilities.
The delegation encouraged relevant agencies and technology companies from the two countries to establish contacts and explore joint programs suited to their respective needs and operating conditions.
The meetings in Spain, together with engagements in the Netherlands and Portugal, helped advance the ministry’s cooperation with partners in the three countries on law enforcement, the enforcement of criminal sentences, prison management, and security for seaports and other critical infrastructure.
