Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds a welcoming ceremony for the visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 31, 2023. Li held talks with Sanchez in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday held talks with the visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Beijing, with both sides pledging further efforts to enhance bilateral ties.

Calling Spain a major EU country that plays a positive and significant role in regional and international affairs, Li said China is willing to work with Spain to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to deepen friendship and expand cooperation in all fields, so as to jointly promote new progress in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and make positive contributions to the recovery and growth of the world economy.

Li urged the two sides to consolidate political mutual trust, maintain closer exchanges and communications, and further synergize development strategies.

As both countries are promoters and beneficiaries of multilateralism and globalization, Li said they should take a clear-cut stand against unilateralism and protectionism, uphold the international order and systems based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and jointly ensure the stability and smoothness of industrial and supply chains.

China is ready to work with Spain to boost trade and investment, strengthen the synergy of industries, and foster new growth points for cooperation in areas such as new energy and advanced materials, Li added.

China welcomes more Spanish enterprises to do business and make investments in China and hopes that Spain will continue to provide a fair, just and unbiased market environment for Chinese companies, Li said.

Noting that Spain is a trustworthy partner of China in the EU, Li said a sound China-EU relationship serves the interests of both sides and is also conducive to the solidarity of the international community in jointly responding to challenges.

He urged efforts by the two sides to enhance communication and coordination, make sound preparations for the China-EU leaders' meeting scheduled this year, and jointly foster new growth engines for cooperation including the digital economy, environmental protection and artificial intelligence.

Sanchez said Spain regards China as a major strategic partner and hopes to further strengthen exchanges and dialogues in the post-COVID-19 era to promote greater development of China-Spain bilateral relations, adding that spain is willing to deepen cooperation in economy and trade, investment, culture, education and tourism, among other areas.

Spain supports enhanced communications and cooperation between the EU and China, and will vigorously promote it during Spain's rotating presidency of the EU in the second half of this year, Sanchez added.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of documents on bilateral cooperation in education, customs and sports.