On May 13, 2017, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain, who was in China to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Spain friendly exchanges enjoy a long-standing history. About 400 years ago, both sides had established frequent trade contacts among China, Europe and Latin America through the Maritime Silk Road. In recent years, the depth and breadth of China-Spain practical cooperation have been constantly expanded, and bilateral mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation have faced broad development prospects. China is willing to work with Spain to strengthen exchanges between the two governments, legislative institutions, and political parties, enhance mutual understanding, broaden consensus, understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and conduct consultation and cooperation in international and regional hotspot issues. Both sides should strengthen the docking of development strategies, fully tap cooperation potential in agricultural, bio-medicine, aerospace and other areas. Both countries should reinforce cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and foster more young envoys of friendship to promote local and non-governmental exchanges. China firmly support the European integration process, hoping that Spain could play an active role in the EU and make positive contributions to the long-term, healthy, and stable development of China-EU relations.

Xi Jinping stressed that Spain has a special advantage in its geographic position, and could play an important role in expanding the "Belt and Road" construction. The China-Europe freight train from Yiwu City to Madrid is an important bridge of Eurasian connectivity and one of the first outcomes of the "Belt and Road" construction. Both countries should give play to their own advantages and carry out practical cooperation in many fields in a bid to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

Mariano Rajoy expressed that Spain-China relations maintain a sound development momentum with close high-level exchanges and fruitful economic and trade cooperation. Speaking highly of the "Belt and Road" initiative, Spain believes that the initiative will have an important impact on the regional economy and cultural exchanges along the route and provide more space for bilateral cooperation. Spain is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields including trade, investment and infrastructure and people-to-people and cultural engagement with China, and actively push for the deepening of Europe-China relations.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the meeting.