The Chinese Premier makes a commitment to the President of the Government to increase the import of Spanish products
President's News - 2010.8.31
Zhongnanhai Complex, Beijing (China)
The two leaders met at the Zhongnanhai Complex, to the west of the Forbidden City and the headquarters of the Chinese Government. They discussed the development of bilateral relations between their two countries, relations that have never been better than they are now.
During the meeting, Wen Jiabao proposed a series of objectives to the President of the Spanish Government aimed at improving relations with Spain yet further. Besides the proposals mentioned above, the Chinese Premier underlined the need to "increase Spanish investments in China in terms of renewable energies", as well as in fields such as the environment and energy efficiency, in which Spain occupies a leading position in the world and is already collaborating with Chinese companies.
Wen Jiabao also mentioned aerospace technology and biotechnology as possible areas for cooperation between the two countries.
The Chinese Premier praised the measures adopted by the Spanish Government to exit the recession. The Chinese Premier also stated that the effectiveness of these measures to improve the Spanish economic situation and to gain confidence from the markets has been clearly demonstrated.
Relations with the EU
The President of the Spanish Government also spoke about the importance of making further progress with the work being undertaken by the Spain-China Mixed Committee on economic and trade issues, recalling that the next meeting of said committee will be held in October and that, for the first time, tourism will be one of the topics for discussion. José Luis Rodrigez Zapatero promised the Chinese Premier that he will support more in-depth relations between China and the European Union, as well as the development of policies to facilitate the concession of visas to Chinese citizens who wish to travel to Spain and other European countries.
The EU is yet to recognise China as a market economy but Spain is in favour of opening a new strategic relationship with the second largest economic powerhouse in the world.
Bilateral trade
Growth of bilateral trade with China has been notable. China is now Spain's sixth largest trading partner. So far this year, China is Spain's third largest source of imports (ahead of Italy) and the largest source of imports from outside of the European Union. In light of this, the commitment from both sides to increase bilateral trade to 40 billion euros in 2011 gains considerably more significance.
China is also an important financial investor in Spain, holding approximately 10% of the public debt securities owned by foreign bodies.
Cultural ties
The Chinese Premier also underlined the importance of improving cultural ties, to which the President of the Spanish Government replied that he is working on the launch of a Chinese Cultural Centre in Spain and "on the consolidation of the Cervantes Institute in Shanghai".
The Chinese Cultural Centre, equivalent to the Spanish Cervantes Institute, is soon to open its doors in Madrid. For its part, Spain has one Cervantes Institute in Beijing and another in Shanghai. Besides these institutes, the Universal Exposition in Shanghai has clearly shown the enormous appetite for Spanish culture that exists in China. The Spanish Pavilion is one of the most-visited pavilions at the Expo event.
The Spain-China Forum, as a platform for dialogue between companies from the two countries, has now been held on five occasions. The 5th edition was held in Chengdu in April 2009 and the 6th edition will be held in Barcelona at the start of 2011. It is worth noting the recent appointment of new Joint Presidents for each of the two countries: Pedro Solbes on behalf of Spain (replacing J. A. Samaranch); and Mrs. Uyunqimg, Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, on behalf of China.
Another bilateral meeting also took place on Tuesday between the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, and his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi. Following the conclusion of that meeting, the President of the Spanish Government set off for Japan to begin his first official visit to the country.
