Chinese President XiJinping met with Spanish King Felipe VI on June 9, saying China welcomesSpain's participation in the building of the Belt and Road.
Xi said China and Spainshould make full use of the China-Europe freight train from the eastern Chinesecity of Yiwu to the Spanish capital of Madrid.
Noting that China attachesgreat importance to the China-Spain relations, Xi voiced appreciation for theSpanish royal family's long-standing, firm support to the development of tiesbetween the two countries.
China is willing to workwith Spain to elevate the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership toa higher level, so as to better benefit the two peoples, he said, adding thatthe two sides should have closer high-level contacts and firmly support eachother on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns.
He stressed the alignmentof the two countries' development strategies, saying China and Spain shoulddeepen cooperation in such fields as finance, telecommunications, renewableenergy, agriculture, biomedicine, aerospace and aviation.
The two countries shouldstrengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, boost interactions at locallevels, expand cooperation in areas like education, tourism and sports, saidXi.
The Chinese president alsocalled on the two countries to maintain consultation and cooperation oninternational and regional hot-button issues, saying they should advance theeconomic globalization toward a more open, inclusive, universally beneficialand balanced direction.
China firmly supports theEuropean integration process, said Xi, urging further development of the fourpartnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization between China and Europe.
Xi expressed his hope thatSpain would continually play an active role within the European Union and makepositive contributions to the long-term, healthy and stable development of theChina-Europe relations.
For his part, King FelipeVI hailed the time-honored bilateral friendship, saying the two countries havemade achievements in exchanges and cooperation in the areas of trade, economy,politics and culture on the basis of mutual respect.
Spain is willing to workwith China to consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen high-levelinteractions, and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, said theking.
He said the China-proposedBelt and Road Initiative will boost the global economy, adding that Spain isready to participate in cooperation in such areas as energy and infrastructurewithin the framework of the Belt and Road.
Xi arrived in AstanaWednesday for a state visit to Kazakhstan and the 17th meeting of the Councilof Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). He will alsoattend the opening ceremony of Expo 2017 in Astana.
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