President Hu arrives in Madrid for state visit
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-13 20:18

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived here Sunday for a state visit, which aims to expand cooperation between China and Spain.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) waves as he walks with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos upon his arrival at Madrid, November 13, 2005. Hu arrived on Sunday for a two-day state visit to Spain. [Reuters]

During his stay in Spain, the Chinese president will meet King Juan Carlos I, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, speakers of the two houses of the Spanish parliament and attend the first industrial and business summit between the two countries,said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The two countries will sign a series of agreements on cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology as well as culture.

Spain is China's important cooperative partner in South Europe.Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Spain 32 years ago, the Sino-Spanish relations have developed steadily.

The two countries have maintained frequent exchanges of high-level visits, while bilateral economic and trade cooperation expanded fast.

In 2004, trade between the two countries recorded at 7.2 billion US dollars, a 37 percent increase over the previous year.

In the first seven months of this year, bilateral trade volume reached 5.9 billion dollars, 50 percent up from the same period last year.

Hu is scheduled to wind up his visit here Tuesday and leave forthe South Korean capital of Seoul for a state visit. He will attend the Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) slated for Nov. 18-19 in Busan, South Korea.