Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning held a regular press conference in Beijing on Tuesday and made several remarks regarding foreigners. Minister Wang Yi was asked to comment on his visit to Spain.
Reporter: Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Spain. King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met separately. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Jose Manuel Álvarez Bueno met and held a joint press conference. This will be Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s first visit after the Spring Festival. What great results did this visit bring, and what role did it play in the development of relations between China and Spain?
Mao Ning: China and Spain are comprehensive strategic partners. Last year, the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s visit to China was a success. During his meeting with Prime Minister Sanchez, President Xi Jinping suggested that the two countries promote bilateral relations with a strategic focus. Both sides acknowledged the good experience that has enabled the long-standing friendship between the two countries of mutual respect, equality and commitment to mutual benefit, and jointly formulated plans for the development of bilateral relations. This is Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s second visit to Spain in six years. This aims to convey important common understanding between the leaders of the two countries and give a good start to the second 50 years of diplomatic relations between China and Spain. Spain welcomed Foreign Minister Wang with warm hospitality. This visit achieved its objectives and was a complete success.
The visit highlighted the strategic stability of China-Spain relations. No matter how the international situation changes, China and Spain will uphold the tradition of mutual respect, mutual trust, equality and win-win cooperation, develop bilateral relations with an unwavering friendship policy, and pursue core interests and major issues. We have supported each other. Concerns. Establishing friendly relations with China is Spain’s consensus, supported by its royal family, government and people. The two sides agreed to continue the momentum of high-level exchanges, foster friendship between the peoples of China and Spain, and provide mutual understanding and support in efforts to safeguard national unity and ethnic unity. Spain reiterated its commitment to the “one China” policy.
The visit highlighted bright prospects for open cooperation. China and Spain have deepened economic and trade cooperation in recent years. China is Spain’s largest trading partner outside the EU and the second largest consumer of olive oil. Spain is China’s second largest source of pork imports. Chinese companies are actively participating in the development of solar and wind power in Spain and are expanding cooperation in third-party markets. During the visit, both sides reiterated their commitment to open cooperation and promoting a number of groundbreaking and demonstrative projects in telecommunications, healthcare, electric vehicles and green energy.
The visit deepened exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations. Both China and Spain are ancient civilizations with rich histories. Last year, the two countries launched the “China-Spain Year of Culture and Tourism”, giving new impetus to exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations. The two countries have been cooperating on giant pandas for more than 40 years. Giant pandas living in Spain have recently given birth to six cubs, more than anywhere else in Europe. The giant panda cooperation symbolizes the friendship between China and Spain, and between China and Europe. The Spanish people warmly welcomed and expressed their gratitude for China’s announcement that it would send a new pair of young pandas to Spain after the return of the Spanish panda family at the end of the agreement.
This visit will bring stability to China-Europe relations and to the world. Spain is a major country in the EU. China and Spain share the same or similar views on major international and regional issues. Spain emphasized that good relations with China are of great importance for Spain, Europe and the world, and highly praised President Xi Jinping’s important ideas such as building a community with a shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides will cooperate to address global challenges, promote the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations through China-Spain friendship, and provide a strong stabilizing force in an unstable and turbulent world. was reiterated.
