MADRID — Chinese president Hu Jintao is to attend a reception hosted by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia during his first state visit to Spain.
During his three-day stay, Hu is scheduled to sign a bilateral integral strategic association agreement.
The Chinese leader, accompanied by his wife Liu Yongqing and a delegation of government ministers and businessmen, arrived at the Barajas airport from Germany on Sunday.
Abou 100 Chinese citizens living in Spain attended the arrival ceremony to sing the Chinese welcoming song to Hu, wave flags and hold up a sign reading “Welcome on your state visit”.
But human rights groups in Spain have also held protests over China’s record in Tibet and the torture of political prisoners.
Hu’s trip to Spain comes four months after Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero travelled to Beijing.
In addition to the bilateral association accord, officials from the two nations will also ink the first mutual extradition pact between the two governments.
Hu’s reception in the El Pardo Palace will be followed by a visit to parliament and a meeting with Zapatero in the Moncloa Palace, where the pacts will be signed.
After lunching at the Moncloa Palace, Hu will place a floral wreath at the monument in Plaza de la Lealtad to those who have given their lives for Spain, after which he will visit the Madrid City Hall and attend a dinner in his honour hosted by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the Royal Palace.
On Tuesday, before concluding his visit, Hu will attend the 1st Hispano-China Business Summit.
Moratinos said Sunday that he will speak with Hu about “human rights in the Asian country, but in the sense that they must be promoted and (we must) continue engaging in a dialogue”.
He emphasized that Spain had been included as a stop on Hu’s tour of several European Union nations and “we’re going to sign a … strategic alliance” which will have “great economic, financial and cultural implications”.
Meanwhile, in the southern coastal city of Malaga, the 1st Hispano-China Science, Technology and Innovation Forum kicked off on Sunday with delegates from more than 200 Spanish and Chinese firms and institutions in attendance with the aim of increasing bilateral trade and business relations.
Chinese science and technology minister Xu Guanhua said that a further goal of the forum – at which almost 100 Chinese firms are represented – is to “exchange ideas and deepen mutual understanding … (between) two ancient civilizations that have contributed to the progress of human beings”.
Spain is the EU country with the sixth largest amount of investments in China. Spanish firms have invested EUR 263 million (USD 545m) in 870 projects in the Asian giant, and they have signed 507 contracts with Chinese counterparts and government entities to introduce technology there.
