Senior Chinese leaders Wu Bangguo and Jia Qinglin met in Beijing Friday with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, proposed that China and Spain strengthen cooperation in areas of telecommunication, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and energy.

In addition, he said China and Spain should increase cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises as a way to strengthen bilateral relations.

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

The Spanish prime minister arrived in Beijing Thursday on a three-day official visit to China. He met with Chinese Premier WenJiabao Thursday.

Wu Bangguo also proposed the two countries step up contacts between parliaments.

In a separate meeting, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, said the two sides should increase exchange and cooperation so as to broaden the basis for bilateral ties.

For his part, Zapatero praised China for its progress in democracy and law as well as its role in international affairs.

He said Spain hopes to upgrade cooperation with China in areas of politics, economy, trade, culture and tourism. He also hopes people of the two countries would increase contacts to improve mutual understanding.

Source: Xinhua