China, Spain ink a dozen agreements

China and Spain inked in Beijing on July 21 a dozen agreements to cement their cooperation in justice, industry, tourism, finance, seismological study, railway and civil aviation.

Visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who arrived in Beijing Thursday on a three-day official visit to China, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao witnessed the signing of the agreements following their hour-long meeting.

The two sides will strengthen political dialogue through a mechanism between foreign ministries of the two countries, according to an agreement.

The two sides will each establish a cultural center in the other country.

China will buy 20 Airbus A330 jetliners, according to a framework agreement signed by the two sides.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the two sides reached wide-range consensus on developing bilateral relations between China and Spain as well as on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Wen Jiabao highly praised the Spanish government's plan to strengthen relationship with China and other Asian-Pacific nations, adding that China attaches equal importance to its relationship with Spain.

The Chinese premier proposed that the two countries should step up their cooperation in areas of politics, economy, science and technology as well as culture.

The Chinese premier pledged that China would increase imports from Spain.

China-Spain trade reached 7.2 billion US dollars last year, up 38 percent from a year ago. The trade volume added up to four billion US dollars in the first five months of the year, up 48 percent.

In addition, Wen highly appreciated the Spanish government's adherence to one-China policy and its stance to oppose "Taiwan independence".

For his part, Zapatero stressed that Spain wants to be a friend of China, and that it supports China's economic development and national reunification.

The Spanish prime minister said Spain hopes to increase consultations with China on major regional and international issues, and upgrade the level of economic cooperation.

In addition, he said Spain would help promote the development of EU-China relationship.

Source: Xinhua