Wu visit boosts ties with Spain

China and Spain see great potential in bilateral trade cooperation including renewable energy sources, Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo said on Friday during his visit to the country.

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, told President of the Spanish Senate Pio Garcia-Escudero in Madrid that although the two countries are different in political system, both sides are facing similar challenges, such as economic development, improving people's livelihoods and strengthening the rule of law.

Garcia-Escudero said China is Spain's most important strategic partner.

During the six-day visit that started on Wednesday, Wu has also conferred with his Spanish counterpart, the President of the Congress Jesus Posada, as well as King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

During the meeting with Rajoy, Wu pledged more cooperation with Spain in renewable energy sources, while reaffirming that China "will not be absent" in helping Europe deal with the ongoing financial woes.

China's support for the euro zone and its confidence in its currency is strong, he said. Wu said Europe can overcome temporary obstacles with a sound economic base and advanced scientific technology.

Citing renewable energy sources as a promising field for cooperation, Wu said China should introduce advanced technologies and equipment from Spain as well as learn from its management of running renewable power stations.

"China is currently upgrading its energy structure, while Spain has already applied renewable energy resources to a wide range of fields," he said.

On his first visit to the country, Wu said his priority has been to maintain the high-level interaction with the new Spanish government and to enrich the Sino-Spanish comprehensive strategic partnership.

Saying bilateral ties are better than ever, Wu said China will encourage its companies to import more goods, including grape wines and olive oils to bolster economic exchanges. During Wu's visit, the two countries signed 16 cooperative agreements on telecommunications equipment and network solutions.

China is Spain's largest trade partner outside the EU. The two-way trade volume reached $27.3 billion in 2011, up 11.7 percent from 2010. In 2011, the two countries signed 15 government agreements and economic and commercial contracts worth $7.5 billion.

Contact the writer at zhaoyinan@chinadaily.com.cn.