In 2010, exchanges and cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Spain deepened across the board and their comprehensive strategic partnership was further substantiated.
Frequent high-level interactions further enhanced mutual political trust. In May, Premier Wen Jiabao had a phone conversation with the President of the Government, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Prime Minister Zapatero talked about measures taken by the eurozone countries to tackle the sovereign debt crisis and expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation with China. Premier Wen affirmed the Chinese government's firm support to the joint eurozone-IMF financing program for Greece and belief that the eurozone countries would overcome difficulties and achieve stable economic growth. He also expressed China's support to the Spanish government, belief in its ability and conditions to tide over temporary difficulty, and readiness to deepen practical cooperation with Spain. In September, Premier Wen again spoke on the phone with Prime Minister Zapatero and exchanged views with him on China-EU and China-Spain relations. In November, Vice President Xi Jinping stopped over in Mallorca after concluding his official visit to South Africa, Angola and Botswana. He met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Trinidad Jimenez and attended his welcoming dinner.
Several Spanish leaders attended the Shanghai World Expo activities. In April, President of the Congress of Deputies Jose Bono attended the Opening Ceremony of the Expo. In August, Prime Minister Zapatero attended the National Day activities of the Spain Pavilion and stopped over in Beijing. In Shanghai, he met with and attended the dinner hosted by Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee Yu Zhengsheng, who joined him during the National Day events. In Beijing, he met with Premier Wen. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube, who accompanied Prime Minister Zapatero on his visit to China, met with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. In October, Second Vice President of the Government and Minister of Economy and Finance Elena Salgado visited the Spain Pavilion in her private capacity and donated Baby Miguelin, the treasure of the Pavilion, to the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.
Parliamentary exchanges between the two sides were close. In November, NPC Vice Chairman Ismail Tiliwaldi visited Spain, during which he met President of the Congress of Deputies Bono and Minister of the Presidency Ramon Jauregui, and held talks with Vice President of the Congress of Deputies Ana Maria Pastor Julian. In May, Vice President Ana Maria Pastor Julian came to China for the China-Europe High-Level Political Parties Forum and met with NPC Vice Chairperson Chen Zhili. The parliamentary special committees of the two sides enjoyed sound cooperation. Chairman of the NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Wang Yunlong, Chairman of the NPC Financial and Economic Committee Shi Xiushi and Chairman of the CPPCC Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs Tian Congming visited Spain. In November, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress of Deputies Duran i Lleida visited China.
The government departments of the two countries engaged in frequent dialogue and contacts. In October, Finance Minister Xie Xuren met Second Vice President of the Government and Minister of Economy and Finance Elena Salgado on the margins of the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in the ROK, and exchanged views with him on the international economic and financial situation and the further deepening of bilateral cooperation. In July, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Commerce Miguel Sebastian Gascon visited China. He had talks with Vice Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng and met with Deputy Administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange Wang Xiaoyi and Chairman of the China Investment Corporation Lou Jiwei.
The two foreign ministries maintained close consultation and dialogue and enjoyed sound cooperation on major international and regional issues. In January and March, Foreign Minister Yang talked over phone twice with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Moratinos. They exchanged views on advancing China-EU relations during the Spanish Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2010.
Bilateral economic, technological and investment cooperation maintained a good momentum. In December, the 22nd meeting of the China-Spain Joint Economic and Trade Commission was held in Beijing.
Cultural and people-to-people exchanges continued to expand. In April, the two education ministries successfully held a number of activities in Spain, including the third China-Spain University Presidents Forum, the opening ceremony and art performance for the "Chinese Language Year" and China-Spain cultural dialogue. Vice Education Minister Hao Ping and Minister of Education Angel Gabilondo attended the opening ceremony of the "Chinese Language Year" on 12 April. In November, the "2010 China Tibetan Culture Week" was held in Madrid and Valencia.(Last Update: 2011/08/22)