China and Spain are making joint efforts to promote the founding
of an Institute of Confucius in Spain and a branch of the Cervantes
Institute in Beijing in the near future, according to a document
issued Wednesday at a China-Spain forum.
At the third meeting of the forum which concluded on Wednesday,
more than 300 participants from the two countries held in-depth
discussions on further cementing cooperation in politics, economy,
culture, law and other fields.
Setting up cultural centers in each other's countries was an
agreement reached by China and Spain during President Hu
Jintao's state visit to Spain last November. Participants
believe that it will make a positive contribution to Spanish
language teaching and the spread of Spanish culture in China, and
to popularization of Chinese culture on Spain.
The two countries are also seeking to enhance cultural
cooperation by holding the Year of Spain in China, cultivating
high-level talents, and promoting language teaching, television
production and protection of cultural relics.
According to the document issued at the third meeting of the
China-Spain forum, the two countries will encourage the translation
of both countries' literary works.
The two sides will also cooperate in producing TV programs and
promoting exchanges between film research organizations, the
document says.
The Year of Spain will be held in China in 2007. "It will
provide the Chinese public with a window to Spain's culture, art
and everyday life," said Spanish Minister of Development Magdalena
Alvarez.
The China-Spain forum, established in July 2003, is an
unofficial, high-level institution. The Chinese Chairman of the
forum is now Hu Qili, former vice-chairman of the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference, and the Spanish Chairman is Juan Antonio Samaranch,
honorary president of the International Olympic Committee.
The first and second meetings of the forum were held in Beijing
and Barcelona in December 2003 and November 2004, respectively.
(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2006)
