China's top legislator Zhao Leji, during an official goodwill visit to Spain from Saturday to Wednesday, expressed China's readiness to advance China-Spain relations and foster a relationship that supports steady and long-term growth of China-European Union (EU) ties.
During the five-day visit, Zhao, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met in Madrid with Spanish King Felipe VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and held talks with Pedro Rollan, president of the Spanish Senate, and Francina Armengol, speaker of the Spanish Congress of Deputies.
When meeting with Spanish King Felipe VI, Zhao conveyed to him the cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring that in 2018, Xi paid a successful state visit to Spain, ushering in a new stage of high-level development of bilateral relations.
Zhao highly commented on the strong bilateral ties and emphasized that China is committed to collaborating with Spain to deepen their traditional friendship, uphold mutual understanding and respect for each other's core interests and major concerns, promote bilateral exchange and cooperation in various fields toward the achievement of new successes, and tackle global challenges like climate change together, ultimately striving for shared development and prosperity.
Highlighting the close exchange between the heads of state of the two countries and steady growth of the state-to-state ties, the Spanish King asked Zhao to convey his sincere greetings to Xi.
The King said that as next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership, Spain will deepen its cooperation with China in areas such as trade and investment, new energy, climate change, culture, education, and the promotion of each other's languages, bringing fresh momentum to the growth of bilateral relations.
When meeting with Sanchez, Zhao said Spain is an important strategic partner of China in Europe. China appreciates Spain's adherence to the one-China principle and is committed to strengthening the friendship between the two countries, deepening mutual trust, and enhancing cooperation, while steadfastly upholding its policy of opening up.
The top Chinese legislator pledged China's readiness to enhance cooperation in economy, trade, investment, culture, and tourism with Spain, while highlighting the potential for further progress in areas such as electric vehicles, clean energy, advanced materials, and the green and digital economy. He stressed the need to establish a fair, safe, non-discriminatory, and predictable business environment for enterprises.
China has always regarded Europe as a key priority in its diplomacy and an important partner in achieving Chinese modernization. China is willing to promote high-level development of China-Spain relations to contribute to steady and long-term growth of China-EU relations, Zhao said.
Sanchez said Spain abides by the one-China policy. Extending welcome for China's investment, the prime minister called for more cooperation in such fields as trade, electric vehicles, agricultural products, culture and sports.
Spain is willing to play an active role in the EU and push for better development of EU-China relations, said Sanchez, adding the Spanish side will strengthen coordination with China on international and multilateral affairs, uphold the authority of international law, and work together to safeguard global peace and stability.
When holding talks respectively with Rollan and Armengol, Zhao said that exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries constitute an important part of the state-to-state ties. The National People's Congress of China is willing to strengthen exchanges with the Spanish Senate and the Congress of Deputies at all levels, promote mutual learning on legislation and supervision, and timely formulate, revise and approve legal documents conducive to bilateral cooperation.
Zhao underscored the Chinese side's readiness to advance exchanges between the two countries' legislatures, and cement bilateral collaboration within multilateral frameworks such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union. He also explained the People's Congress system, China's fundamental political system.
Rollan said that Spain cherishes its enduring friendship with China and is committed to being a trustworthy friend to China. Highly commenting on the exemplary role of China-Spain investment cooperation on the global stage, he expressed the hope for further cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and reinforce friendship between the two nations.
Armengol said that the Spanish Congress of Deputies is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the National People's Congress of China, and the Spanish deputies hope to actively participate in friendly exchanges between Spain and China.
Zhao also visited Barcelona, where he met with Salvador Illa, president of the regional government of Catalonia, and visited there a joint venture founded by Chinese carmaker Chery and its Spanish partner Ebro, voicing his hope for deepening cooperation between the two countries at the sub-regional level and jointly promote green development.
China's top legislator pledges deeper cooperation with Spain
China's top legislator pledges deeper cooperation with Spain
