Words by President of the Government at his meeting with President of People's Republic of China

Beijing

Thank you very much for your words, Mr President.

I also wish to greet all the members of your delegation. Firstly, I wish to thank you for the welcome you have given us. I will also pass on your message to the King of Spain who said to me that he invites you to make a State visit to Spain when your agenda so permits. I pass that message on in the name of the King.

I remember the conversation we had in Hangzhou on the occasion of the wonderful organisation, by your country, of the G-20. We all went away with very good memories of that meeting. At six o'clock in the morning I even exercised by West Lake. It did me the world of good.

I also remember your visit to Gran Canaria with the Vice-President of the Government, and shortly before that we held a bilateral meeting here, where we were very well received.

I want to thank you for your invitation to take part in this meeting of the Belt and Road Forum. I am accompanied here by a large delegation, headed up by myself and the Minister for Public Works, who has the portfolio for all matters relating to trains, highways, ports, etc.

I would like to say to you that we and the Spanish business leaders are greatly interested in everything related to globalisation. As you know, we suffered an unprecedented economic crisis, with five years of negative growth. We have now come out of this and our country is growing faster than any other major European economy, and our expansion overseas has been decisive in this.

We are very interested in the concept of the Silk Road. The aim is to bring different regions of the world closer together both physically and culturally. You are aware that 500 years ago a few ships set sail from Spain and ended up discovering what today is America and we are interested in our language and everything we have in common with Latin America playing an important role in the new global connections.