Spanish trade minister calls for closer ties with China

The Spanish Minister of Trade and Industry called on the 2011 Global China Business Meeting (GCBM), which is held here in the Spanish city of Valencia to enhance bilateral ties between China and Spain Tuesday. Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Miguel Sebastian joined a discussion on the partnership between Spain and China at GCBM together with Rita Barbera, the mayor of Valencia, Alberto Fabra, the President of the Valencian regional government and Jiang Yiren, the Vice-Chairman of the China Federation of Industrial Economics. Sebastian said that China has always been a good friend to Spain, adding that Spain now is the third largest destination of Chinese investment in Europe and the number of Chinese companies in the country will double by 2013. Spain has begun a plan to facilitate the arrival of Chinese tourists to Spain and aims to attract a million Chinese tourists next year, explained Sebastian. The 2011 GCBM, kicked-off on Monday, is two-day event which aims to identify relevant themes in the business world to look for systematic solutions and discuss about the possibilities of a sustainable future for China and the World.