Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Beijing Friday with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Senior leaders Wu Bangguo and Jia Qinglin also met with him.

Hu expressed appreciation for the new measures Zapatero has taken to improve Sino-Spanish relations since he assumed the office of prime minister, saying that Sino-Spanish relations have developed continuously since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 32 years ago.

He noted China and Spain have maintained frequent high-level exchange of visit, the political trust has deepened, and the economic and trade cooperation expanded. The two countries have also had sound cooperation in the international affairs, he added.

"Sino-Spanish relations position in the best ever place in history, and have great potential for further development," he said.

Hu noted China is building up well-off society, and Spain is carrying out Asia action plan to expand economic cooperation with Asia. This provides Sino-Spanish relations with opportunity, he said.

Hu said China attaches importance to the relations with Spain, and would like to work with it to further cooperation in all fields and levels to upgrade the bilateral ties to a new stage.

Zapatero said the high-level exchange of visits helps promote the relations between Spain and China, indicating that during his fruitful visit, many agreements have been signed. and the two countries have consulted each other on the major international and regional issues.

He said Spain will continue to develop the relations with China, observe one-China policy, and enhance the cooperation in the political, economic and scientific fields.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, proposed that China and Spain strengthen cooperation in areas of telecommunication, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and energy.

In addition, he said China and Spain should increase cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises as a way to strengthen bilateral relations.

China and Spain inked a dozen agreements to cement their cooperation in justice, industry, tourism, finance, seismological study, railway and civil aviation Thursday.

Wu Bangguo also proposed the two countries step up contacts between parliaments.

In a separate meeting, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, said the two sides should increase exchange and cooperation so as to broaden the basis for bilateral ties.

For his part, Zapatero praised China for its progress in democracy and law as well as its role in international affairs. He said Spain hopes to upgrade cooperation with China in areas of politics, economy, trade, culture and tourism. He also hopes people of the two countries would increase contacts to improve mutual understanding.

The Spanish prime minister arrived in Beijing Thursday on a three-day official visit to China. He met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2005)