Chinese President Hu Jintao met with the visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in Beijing on Saturday.

Hu said, as this year marked the 35th anniversary of China-Spain bilateral ties, China is willing to work with Spain to strengthen bilateral cooperation for joint development.

Hu expressed hopes of further high-level exchanges among governments, parliaments, parties and local agencies between the two countries in the future.

He also urged enterprises of both countries to increase mutual investments and take active measures for trade balance.

Exchanges and cooperation in the areas of culture, education, science and technology, sports and tourism are also expected to expand, said the President.

In addition, Hu stressed the two countries should strengthen negotiations and cooperation on important international issues like global finance, climate change, anti-terrorism and food safety, so as to safeguard the common interests of both countries.

Zapatero said the Spanish government attaches great importance to its relationship with China and is willing to play its role in promoting a Sino-European relationship in the future.

China and Spain established an all-round strategic partnership to put forward bilateral cooperation in 2005.

In recent years, with trade volume increasing, the two countries expanded cooperation in new areas such as telecommunications, finance and renewable energy.

Zapatero was in Beijing for the seventh summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) which was held Oct. 24-25.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2008)