China, Spain pledge to strengthen partnership, deepen cooperation

China and Spain have agree that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an important solution to boosting global cooperation.

The two countries have issued a joint statement during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the European country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, Spain, Nov. 28, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

The joint statement says the two sides will fully leverage the potential of this platform of connectivity and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in third-party markets.

They also welcome the cooperation between China and the European Union (EU) on connectivity and infrastructure construction.

It says the two sides will remain committed to building an open, balanced and inclusive global economy that is in accordance with the WTO rules.

The two sides agree they enjoy huge potential for economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries and in third-party markets.

As such, they pledge to boost cooperation between their businesses in Latin American, as well as African and Asian countries.

Specifically, the two countries are willing to increase the volume of freight through the China Railway Express container trains that connect China's Yiwu with Madrid.

The two sides also pledge to strengthen cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, education, culture, sports and tourism.

President Xi arrived In Madrid Tuesday for the first visit by a Chinese head of state to the European country in 13 years.

Spain is the first stop of the president's ongoing Europe and Latin America tour, which will also take him to Argentina, Panama and Portugal.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, Xi Jinping will also attend the 13th Group of 20 summit.