Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi on Thursday vowed to uphold multilateralism and enhance bilateral exchanges between China and Spain.

Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, began by applauding the new blueprint for China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership drawn by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sanchez during Xi's successful visit to Spain in 2018.

Noting the two countries have worked together in the face of COVID-19, Yang said the fact fully proves that China and Spain are sincere partners and friends.

China and Spain should maintain high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust and continue to support each other's core interests and major concerns, Yang stressed while suggesting the two sides should respect each other's development path and regard each other's development as an opportunity.

China is ready to work with Spain to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and develop bilateral relations into a model of mutual respect, exchanges and mutual learning, and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries, said Yang.

According to Yang, the two countries need to expand bilateral trade and investment and tap the potential of cooperation in green economy, digital economy and other fields. China is ready to import more Spanish agricultural products, added the senior diplomat.

Yang urged the two countries to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, deepen mutual learning among civilizations, promote joint research and development of vaccines and drugs and build a global community of health for all.

China and Spain need to jointly uphold multilateralism, uphold international equity and justice, and improve global governance, he said, expressing the belief that Spain will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the development of China-Europe relations.

For his part, Sanchez said Spain attaches great importance to developing relations with China strategically, and President Xi's successful visit to Spain has facilitated an important development in bilateral relations.

Spain thanks China for the assistance and support in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanchez said, adding that the fight against COVID-19 has brought all countries closely together and helped strengthen Spain-China relations.

Sanchez said Spain is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China to further explore the Chinese market, and welcomes investment from Chinese businesses.

Sanchez noted that Spain, the European Union and China all firmly support multilateralism and need to strengthen communication and coordination. There is great potential for EU-China cooperation, and Spain will actively participate in and promote it, he added.

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Spain is the second stop in Yang's visit, which started on Tuesday. Before visiting Spain, Yang met with Myanmar President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday in Myanmar.

He is expected to visit Greece in the following days.