President wraps up fruitful Europe trip
(China Daily/Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-16 06:46

MADRID: President Hu Jintao yesterday wrapped up a week-long visit to Europe which took him to Britain, Germany and Spain.

He was due to leave for Seoul late yesterday to start a state visit to the Republic of Korea and then attend the Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) in Busan on November 18-19.

President Hu Jintao speaks at the Chinese-Spanish Business Summit in Madrid November 15, 2005. [Xinhua]

His European trip was dominated by trade and economic issues, but the Chinese leader also achieved new progress in strengthening ties with the major European Union members.

On Monday, Spain became the fourth nation in the EU to establish a strategic partnership with China, which already has similar partnerships with Britain, Germany and France.

Before winding up his three-day Spain visit, Hu inaugurated the first Chinese-Spanish Business Summit along with Spanish King Juan Carlos yesterday morning.

He said the comprehensive strategic partnership would create more favourable conditions for both countries to deepen economic and technological collaboration.

The Chinese Government will facilitate broader and closer co-operation between enterprises of the two countries and support their joint exploration of markets in third countries, he told the event attended by more than 1,000 Chinese and Spanish business leaders.

Carlos spoke highly of the Spanish-Chinese friendship, saying that increased co-operation is conducive to economic and social development in both nations.

He saluted China's "spectacular economic dynamism" which had led Madrid to seek a "new qualitative dimension" with Beijing.

That dynamism, underpinned by spectacular growth, has seen Europe's biggest states signing a slew of trade accords during Hu's tour.

On Monday, China and Spain inked a series of agreements worth a total of US$1.1 billion, adding to US$3 billion worth of deals signed in Britain and Germany. 

China, Spain to cement economic, cultural co-operation

China and Spain agreed on Tuesday to cement cooperation in economic and cultural fields as part of their efforts to push Sino-Spanish relations forward greatly.

The two countries will fully exploit the functions of the Sino-Spanish Mixed Committee of Commerce and Trade and try to enlarge two-way investment, said a joint communique released during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Spain.

They pledged to support Chinese and Spanish enterprises to strengthen relations to promote dialogue and cooperation in various sectors such as the environment, energy, civil service, infrastructure, telecommunication, traffic, commerce, tourism and health care.

They expressed a willingness to tackle frictions and disputes through dialogue and consultation and beef up cooperation in other regions of the world, Latin America in particular.

The two countries said in the communique that they respected cultural differences and backed setting up a channel to enhance mutual knowledge and understanding, which is considered conducive to cultural exchange and cooperation.

They welcomed the agreement on setting up a Cervantes Institute in China and a Confucius College in Spain.

Spain will open cultural centers in China and vice versa, according to one of the 16 bilateral accords inked during Hu's visit.

The two countries are ready to realize the goal that China will hold the Year of Spain and Spain will host a Chinese art festival in 2007, said the communique.

Under the circumstances of economic globalization, education exchanges and cooperation have significant meanings for mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially between young generations.

They agreed to encourage contacts and exchanges between local governments, academic circles, press agencies and folk organizations as part of an effort to expand the social basis of bilateral ties.

They also supported the Sino-Spanish forum to become a suitable channel toward this end, according to the communique.

Spain is the third leg of Hu's four-nation European-Asian trip, which has already taken him to Britain and Germany.

Hu will visit South Korea and attend the Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) slated for Nov. 18-19 in Busan.