China proposed on Thursday that the 4th meeting of the China-Spain Forum be held in Madrid in November and obtained agreement in principle from Spain's First Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega.

Fernandez de la Vega, who is in China for a one-week official visit, discussed the preparation of the 4th meeting of the China-Spain Forum with Hu Qili, the Chinese chairman of the forum, and Chen Haosu, forum executive chairman.

Chen said that the Chinese side hopes the meeting will be held from November 20 to 21 in Madrid, with a theme of "harmony, development and mutual benefit" and hopes the Deputy Prime Minister will attend the opening ceremony.

Chen added China hopes that the 4th meeting will basically follow the shape of the 3rd meeting held in Shanghai which included a entrepreneurs' summit and that some economic and technology cooperation agreements will be signed after the meeting.

Fernandez de la Vega said the Spanish side in principle agrees to China's proposal but still needs to further consult with the Spanish Foreign Ministry and the Madrid government.

She hailed the forum as a good platform for discussing channels for bilateral cooperation and a sign of the readiness of both countries to make joint efforts for the future, saying the forum has made a remarkable contribution to the development of bilateral relations.

Fernandez de la Vega said Spain hopes the meeting will also cover the "Year of Spain in China" program, cooperation in activities related to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Spanish deputy prime minister arrived in Shanghai, China's economic hub, on Monday for the China tour which will also take her to Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest China.

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2007)