Spain’s king bats for improved economic, cultural ties with RP

MADRID (via PLDT) — Spanish King Juan Carlos I wants improved economic and cultural ties with the Philippines, which he described as his country’s "great friend" in Asia.

During a luncheon he and Queen Sofia hosted for President Arroyo and her delegation, King Carlos said that, considering the two countries’ common history and mutual understanding, "we should consolidate, expand and further promote our relations."

"In an increasingly globalized and interdependent world, the Philippines and Spain should decisively embark on a substantial growth in their economic, trade and financial relations, so that they may be able to approximate the intensity and prominence that defines our cultural exchanges and our development cooperation," the monarch said during a lunch held to observe Fil-Hispano Friendship Day last June 30.

As to deepening cultural relations, King Carlos expressed his wish that Filipinos keep learning the Spanish language and never forget their Spanish heritage.

He said Spanish should be promoted in the Philippines "as a major vehicle for international communication, one having deep roots in your country, which is shared by more than 400 million people worldwide, and is in growing demand in Europe and North America, where it is now the second most widely-spoken language."

The King promised to enhance understanding and cooperation with the Philippines as a "tried and true friend" of Spain.

"A better day could not have been chosen to commemorate a friendship as solid as that between Spain and the Philippines, one which, with your visit, we are resolved to promote even further," he said.

King Carlos also praised Mrs. Arroyo for her courage and statesmanship in pushing for the abolition of the death penalty in the Philippines.

He said the move was transcendental and almost unprecedented in Asia, "which integrates your country in the group of nations which, like Spain, have worked and continue to work to eradicate this cruel and unjust penalty, which constitutes an attack on human rights."

The Spanish king said he and Queen Sofia have visited the Philippines on several occasions and enjoyed their time in the country tremendously.

"These unforgettable visits deepened our feelings of affection and admiration for the Philippines, for its people, always hospitable and hard working," he said.

The King said that on each visit, they became more convinced that there was so much unifying the two countries and so much potential to grow as partners, both economically and politically.

"We saw an eloquent example of these feelings of special closeness and solidarity in Your Excellency’s gesture of declaring three days of official mourning in the Philippines after the terrible terrorist attacks on March 11, 2004 in Madrid," he said, referring to the bombings of train stations here.

King Carlos said the two countries had reached a good political understanding which he wanted to improve through the European Union and the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), now being chaired by the Philippines.