Chinese President Xi Jinping has hailed ties between China and Spain, saying they are at the best period in history.

President Xi, who is on an official visit to Spain, made the remarks during a meeting with Spanish King Felipe VI on Tuesday.

Bilateral ties between China and Spain have advanced continuously ever since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2005, the president said.

Xi cited the strengthening of political mutual trust and expansion of areas of cooperation and people-to-people exchanges and said he wished his visit can consolidate the friendship between the two nations.

The Chinese president also said China is willing to support Spain on issues involving core interests and major concerns. 

Xi said he hopes that both countries can promote cooperation in trade and investment, tourism, third-party markets and other areas through China's Belt and Road Initiative. 

For his part, King Felipe VI told President Xi that Spain cherishes the friendly exchanges and cooperation, noting that the visit marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Spain is looking forward to continuing strengthening communication and coordination in multilateral affairs with China and actively promoting the deepening of EU-China relations, the king said.

He added that he is looking for more practical cooperation as well as more negotiations in multilateral affairs, so as to actively deepen Europe-China ties.  

President Xi arrived in Spain on Tuesday for a three-day state visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to the European nation in 13 years.