Beijing (EFE).- The Chinese Prime Minister, Li Qiang, opened the door this Friday to greater cooperation in all areas with Spain, a country he praised for its international relevance and for its commitment to a greater relationship between the European Union and the Asian country.
Li advocated increasing that relationship, a wish that was joined by the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, in the meeting that both held in the Great Hall of the People, located in Tiananmen Square.
It was the first meeting with the high authorities of China with which Sánchez will meet throughout the day in the framework of his official visit to this country and before the one he will have with its president, Xi Jinping.
After being received with honors along with the rest of his delegation, which includes his Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, listening to the anthems of both countries and reviewing the troops together with Li, both held a meeting.
At the beginning of the event, open to the press, the Chinese prime minister, with whom Sánchez met the day before at the Boao Economic Forum, stressed that Spain is a great EU country and plays “an important role in regional affairs and international”.
“You are a senior Spanish politician who has been promoting Sino-European relations and cooperation for a long time,” he added before highlighting the importance of the Prime Minister’s visit to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations.
After recalling some of his visits to Spain, he assured that his country is willing to promote the exchange of goods of all kinds, including solar panels, and recalled Spanish imports such as olive oil and wine.
strategic partnership
Li referred to the international economic situation to ensure that it is “uncertain and unstable” and said he agreed with the points of view expressed by the president of the Spanish Government at the Boao Forum on the need for greater international cooperation.
“China will always commit to promoting win-win cooperation with countries around the world,” said the prime minister before assuring that they are very willing to further collaboration with Spain.
In this collaboration, he advocated developing the comprehensive strategic association between both countries.
Neither he nor Sánchez referred in those initial words to the war in Ukraine, an issue that will be present in the subsequent meeting of the head of government with President Xi.
The Chief Executive thanked his counterpart for the reception, congratulated him on his recent appointment as Prime Minister and highlighted the importance of the visit that Xi made to Spain in 2018 for strengthening the bilateral relationship.
He regretted that the coronavirus pandemic caused a hiatus in that relationship and expressed his desire to relaunch them now in all areas and, especially, in the economic and commercial aspect.
He also assured that there are many investment opportunities for China in Spain and defended a greater relationship between the EU and the Asian country.
After the meeting, Sánchez and Li presided over the signing of several bilateral agreements on sports cooperation, in education, in the agri-food and phytosanitary field and for the reactivation of the bilateral dialogue established in 2018.
Both then shared a working lunch after which the President of the Government will continue his agenda with meetings with a group of Spanish businessmen with interests in China, and with representatives of tour operators from the Asian country after the ban on group travel was recently lifted. to Spain because of the pandemic.
