MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed on Monday the in-depth comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Noting China and Spain celebrated their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on the two sides to open up a new chapter in bilateral ties featuring the spirit of mutual trust, mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation.
As comprehensive strategic partners and countries with important international influence, China and Spain should take up our responsibility, and inject more stabilizing force into the turbulent world.
Recalling his talks with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno on Sunday, Wang said they reached a broad consensus and reconfirmed the positioning of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
He added that China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with Spain, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, close people-to-people, and promote the relationship between the two countries to a new height.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez holds talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Madrid, Spain, February 19, 2024.Â
Sanchez, for his part, pointed out that the close high-level exchanges between Spain and China have injected strong impetus into the relations between the two countries.
Spain attaches great importance to bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, highly evaluates the positive measures taken by China to facilitate economic and trade exchanges and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and is willing to work with China to further explore the potential for cooperation, he said.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to China for supporting Spain’s efforts in safeguarding its territorial integrity, adding that the Spanish side firmly adheres to the one-China policy.
He also appreciated China’s constructive role in international affairs and its contribution to global growth, and support the development of Europe-China relations and strengthening of cooperation.
In the face of serious challenges in the international situation, Europe and China should jointly support the United Nations in playing a central role and play an active role in promoting peace and stability and improving global governance, Sanchez added.
Wang also told Sanchez that China regards the EU as an important force in the process toward greater multipolarity and supports European integration, and the development and growth of the EU as well as realizing strategic autonomy,
As long as China and Europe strengthen their solidarity and cooperation, attempts to create bloc confrontation will not succeed, he said.
Calling today’s world a global village, Wang said China is ready to work with the EU to uphold free trade, practice multilateralism, promote an equal and orderly multi-polar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and create a brighter future for humanity.
