China, Spain Ink $4 Billion In Business Deals

(AP) — China and Spain signed business deals worth $4 billion on Thursday as Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy visited the Asian powerhouse to seek support for Spain's struggling economy.

Chinese premier Li Keqiang announced the deals just before holding talks with Rajoy in Beijing.

The state broadcaster China Central Television said the 10 deals included trade, finance, culture, telecommunications and energy.

Li said China hopes to see further cooperation with Spain in areas such as biology, medicine and aerospace.

Li said, "we hope to have more pragmatic cooperation with Spain, and look forward to expanding the number of people traveling between the two countries."

He asked the prime minister to help reduce the time for Chinese nationals to obtain visas to Spain.

Rajoy said the two countries have always enjoyed "friendly and effective" trade relations.

Two-way trade between China and Spain reached $24 billion last year.