China trade team inks US$320 mln deals in Spain

            China's trade team inked over 20 deals worth US$320 million with
            Spanish firms in Madrid on Thursday, ending the third leg of the
            four-state procurement tour after visiting Germany and Switzerland.
            Those deals, witnessed by Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and
            Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Miguel Sebastian,
            referred to a wide range of industrial and agricultural commodities,
            including aircraft simulators, auto parts, steel, wool, marble,
            seafood, olive oil, wine and ham.
            The visit is meant to boost the bilateral cooperation and fight
            against trade protectionism amid the economic recession, said Chen.
            The trade between China and Spain has experienced rapid growth in
            recent years, with the bilateral trade volume hitting US$26.2
            billion in 2008. Thus, China became Spain's biggest trading partner
            outside the E.U. This figure is hoped to reach US$40 billion through
            joint efforts in 2011, according to Chen.
            A group of Spanish firms will also go to China in April and
            September this year to attend a trade forum in southwestern Sichuan
            province and an expo in Guangdong province, said the Spanish
            Minister.