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Strategic partnership established with Spain
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-11-15 06:08
MADRID: China and Spain announced a strategic partnership yesterday on the
second day of President Hu Jintao's state visit to the European country.
The joint declaration was made after talks between Hu and Prime Minister Jose
Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who visited China in July.
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China's President
Hu Jintao (2nd L) and his wife Liu Yongqing (2nd R) pose with Spain's King
Juan Carlos (L) and Queen Sofia (R) before a private dinner at the
Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid November 13, 2005. Hu arrived in Spain
on Sunday for a two-day state visit.
[Reuters]
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Hu said that, over the years, Spain and China had built strong ties in a
range of areas, including economy, culture, tourism and justice.
But under the strategic partnership agreement, "bilateral relations will
enter a new phase of development," he stressed.
To date, China has strategic partnerships with Britain, France and Germany in
the European Union.
Addressing the Spanish parliament earlier yesterday, Hu told legislators that
both countries have significant common interests.
As a sign of closer bilateral co-operation, the two countries inked 13
accords covering a wide range of fields such as extradition, economy, trade,
science and technology as well as culture.
In line with the deals, Spanish firms will be allowed to participate in the
Chinese nuclear energy sector.
Spain is the final leg of Hu's three-nation European tour, which has taken
him to Britain and Germany.
Yesterday morning, Hu was officially greeted by King Juan Carlos at the Pardo
Palace; and the two are scheduled to preside over a seminar today to be attended
by more than 600 business representatives from both countries.
In an interview with China Daily, Jose-Pedro Sebastian de Erice, the Spanish
Ambassador to China, said Spain welcomes a peaceful and prosperous China and
hopes to co-operate in more fields.
He added that the two countries have collaborated on environmental
protection, developing renewable energies and public works.
He revealed that Spain would open the Instituto Cervantes, a centre to
promote the Spanish language and culture, in Beijing next year.
The European country will stage a Cultural Year of Spain in 2007 in China
while a Chinese Arts Festival will be held in Spain the same year, according to
the ambassador.
On Sunday afternoon, the Chinese president met former International Olympic
Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch, who co-chairs the China-Spain Forum.
He spoke highly of Samaranch's role in promoting Sino-Spanish ties and his
painstaking efforts to run the forum.
Hu also commended Samaranch for his support to the development of the Olympic
movement in China.
Spain has experience in hosting the Olympics and other major sports events,
and China and Spain can strengthen exchanges and co-operation in the run-up to
the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Hu added.
Samaranch said he is convinced that the 2008 Olympic Games would be a great
success.
(China Daily 11/15/2005 page1)
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