Spain and China pledged on Monday to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
During a meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Monday, Spanish King Juan Carlos said a new era was ushered in in relations between Spain and China when the two countries established the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2005.
Carlos said he expects more high-level visits and more cooperation in such fields as telecommunications between the two countries.
The king extended his sympathies to the victims of the massive earthquake that jolted southwest China last month and pledged continued technical, financial and personnel support to the quake relief efforts in China.
He also wished the upcoming Beijing Olympics a success.
Yang said that there has been good momentum of rapid development in relations between China and Spain in recent years. There is a great potential for development in bilateral relations, and China attaches importance to developing relations with Spain.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and China is willing to take this opportunity to work with the Spanish side to further develop the bilateral relationship, so as to bring benefit to both peoples, said the Chinese foreign minister.
During his meeting with Yang, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that relations with China is an important component of Spain's foreign policies.
Spain, which will host the 2008 World Expo in Zaragoza, would like to cooperate with China on projects related to the upcoming Shanghai World Expos in 2010, he said.
Meanwhile, Zapatero pledged his firm support for the Beijing Olympic Games. Spain will send a high-level delegation to attend the opening ceremony in August, he said.
Yang suggested that economy ministries, commerce chambers as well as companies from both countries should intensify their communication and seek to promote investment and expand cooperation in key areas such as finance, telecommunications and tourism.
Yang thanked the Spanish government and people for their support for the relief efforts following the deadly earthquake in China which has killed nearly 70,000 people.
The Chinese foreign minister met his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos on Sunday on bilateral relations, and regional and international issues of mutual concern. Besides Spain, Yang will also visit Slovenia, which holds the current rotating presidency of the European Union (EU), Italy and the EU headquarters in Brussels.
Source: Xinhua
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