Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng yesterday met with a delegation led by Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega Sanz, Spain’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Office of the Prime Minister.

Han extended a warm welcome the delegation in Xingguo Hotel on behalf of city’s municipal government and the Shanghai people and said Spain has good relations with China.

Han thanked de la Vega for Spain’s help and support when Shanghai was bidding to hold World Expo 2010. De la Vega said she believed World Expo 2010 would be one of the most successful World Expos in the history of the event.

Han said the trade between Shanghai and Spain grew 30 percent, reaching US$1.8 billion in 2006.

De la Vega thanked Han for his hospitality and said she admired Shanghai’s rapid development over recent years. She said Shanghai had attracted investment from more than 200 Spanish companies which had set up branches in the city.

This year is“The Year of Spain in China”and Spain will be holding a series of events to boost the two countries’cooperation in bilateral trade, environmental protection, urban construction, financial administration, tourism and preparations for the World Expo.