Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Spanish King Felipe VI in Beijing

China is willing to work with Spain to build a more strategically resilient and dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership with greater international influence, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing. It marks King Felipe VI's first state visit to the country after his enthronement, and the first visit by a Spanish monarch to China in 18 years.

Welcoming King Felipe VI to China, Xi noted that both China and Spain boast profound historical and cultural heritages. Over the past more than 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have consistently approached and advanced their bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, Xi said.

The two countries have respected and supported each other, and helped each other succeed, setting a model of friendly coexistence and common development among countries with different historical and cultural backgrounds and social systems, Xi said.

He added that both China and Spain have played a vital role in promoting global openness and cooperation, as well as upholding international fairness and justice.

Hailing the outstanding contributions made by the Spanish royal family to the development of China-Spain relations, Xi said that on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership, King Felipe VI's state visit to China holds great significance in driving the continuous advancement of friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Noting that China cherishes its traditional friendship with Spain and values Spain's unique role in international and regional affairs, Xi said both sides should further consolidate mutual support, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic guidance, and ensure that bilateral relations always stay on the right track.

Calling on both sides to further advance pragmatic cooperation, he said China is willing to import more high-quality Spanish products, and tap the potential of cooperation in emerging fields such as new energy, digital economy and artificial intelligence.

He also said that the two countries should expand two-way investment, create more landmark projects, leverage their complementary strengths and jointly explore third-party markets such as Latin America.

China and Spain should strengthen exchanges in the fields of culture and education and support each other in successfully running their respective cultural and language institutions in each other's countries, Xi said, adding that China will continue its visa-free policy for Spain to further facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Highlighting this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Xi said that the world today is now in a new period of turbulence and transformation and the pursuit of peace and development remains an arduous task.

"I have put forward the building of a community with a shared future for humanity for the hope that countries could rise above differences in social systems and ideologies, build consensus through dialogue and consultation, and work together to turn the aspirations of people around the world for a better life into reality," said Xi.

He also stressed that China stands ready to work with Spain to support the UN in playing a central role in international affairs, safeguard the rules of free trade and the international economic and trade order, and make global governance more just and equitable, for the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

King Felipe VI said that it is a great pleasure to pay a state visit to China at the 20th anniversary of the Spain-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

He hailed the longstanding friendly exchanges between China and Spain, saying since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have consistently trusted and respected each other and worked together for joint development and prosperity.

China has accomplished globally recognized and admirable achievements in its development, King Felipe VI said, adding that China's successful experiences, especially in poverty alleviation and green and low-carbon development, offer great inspiration.

King Felipe VI reiterated that the Spanish government is firmly committed to the one-China policy, supports China in safeguarding its territorial integrity, and stands ready to work with China to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership to bring more benefits to the two peoples and contribute even more to global peace and stability.

Stressing investment by Chinese enterprises has strongly boosted Spain's economic growth and green transition, the Spanish King said his country is willing to maintain close exchanges with China, in order to seize the important opportunities presented by China's 15th Five-Year Plan, and deepen cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, industry, science and technology, and green energy.

King Felipe VI also appreciated China for extending the visa-free policy, and expressed the readiness to strengthen cultural, linguistic and tourism exchanges in order to enhance the friendship between the two peoples. "History can only move forward, and does not allow for going backward," he said.

King Felipe VI pointed out that Spain and China share highly similar philosophies on many international affairs, and both support multilateralism and the settlement of disputes through dialogue and consultation.

Spain highly appreciates the four major Global Initiatives proposed by President Xi, and is going to work with China to respond to uncertainties in the international situation with a view to upholding international trade order and promoting the steady development of the global economy, King Felipe VI added.

After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of 10 cooperation documents in trade and economy, science and technology, and education, among others.

Prior to the meeting, President Xi and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, held a welcoming ceremony for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the square outside the Eastern Entrance of the Great Hall of the People.

As King Felipe VI arrived, a guard of honor lined up in salutation. President Xi and King Felipe VI stepped onto a stand, after which a military band played the national anthems of China and Spain as a 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square. King Felipe VI reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past in President Xi's company.

President Xi and Madame Peng hosted a welcome banquet for King Felipe VI and his wife in the evening.

(With input from Xinhua)