BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Beijing on Friday.
Xi asked Sanchez to convey his best regards to King Felipe VI of Spain. Xi said that over the past half century, China and Spain have adhered to the principles of mutual respect, exchange and dialogue, actively carried out mutually beneficial cooperation, and established and developed a comprehensive strategic partnership.
“China is committed to promoting Chinese modernization in a comprehensive way through high-quality development, which will provide other countries, including Spain, with a broader market and more cooperation opportunities,” Xi said.
He said China is ready to work with Spain to use the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as a new starting point to deepen and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
The two sides should plan bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, adhere to the fundamentals of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Spain, and support each other on issues concerning core interests, such as sovereignty, security and development, Xi said.
The two countries should follow the general direction of friendship, mutual trust and cooperation in developing bilateral relations, he added.
Calling on the two sides to synergize development strategies and tap into cooperation potential, Xi said China is willing to import more quality Spanish goods and hopes that Spain will provide a fair and just business environment for Chinese companies.
Noting that China and Spain are both countries with ancient civilizations and great cultures of global influence, Xi said the two sides should ensure the success of the China-Spain year of culture and tourism, promote dialogue and exchanges among world civilizations, and make positive contributions to handling the common challenges of humanity.
“The sound development of China-European Union relations requires the EU to uphold strategic independence,” Xi said, adding that both sides should be partners on the road to modernization and good friends that address global challenges together. –Agencies
