Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on advancing bilateral relations with strategic resolve.

Xi pointed out that relations between China and Spain have steadily forged ahead with strategic resolve even in a changing and turbulent world. A key lesson learned is making correct decisions based on shared interests.

Facts have proven that deepening cooperation serves the interests of the two peoples, conforms to the trend of the times, and boosts the resolve and confidence of both sides to pursue independent paths, he said.

Xi said both sides should place the development of China-Spain relations at the forefront of their respective foreign policies and support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Noting China combines its long-term strategic goals with its short-term objectives, Xi said the country has patiently formulated and implemented five-year plans generation after generation.

Determined to advance Chinese modernization, China has the vision to share development opportunities with the world through high-level opening up and will inject confidence and impetus into global economic growth through its own development, he said.

Xi stressed the need for China and Spain to strengthen cooperation in fields including trade, new energy and intelligent economy, and to encourage exchanges in culture, education, scientific research and sports.

China and Spain should seize opportunities, seek innovation-driven development, and promote their comprehensive strategic partnership to yield more results and bring more benefits to their people, Xi said.

Noting the world today is in turmoil, confronted with the contest between the rule of law and the rule of power, Xi called on both China and Spain to oppose a return of the world to "the law of the jungle" and jointly defend true multilateralism.

China and Spain should safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

For his part, Sanchez said that he had made four trips to China over the past four years, demonstrating that both sides attach high importance to Spain-China relations.

He said Spain firmly adheres to the one-China principle, highly values China's status as a major power, and is committed to developing a Spain-China partnership with strategic resolve.

Spain hopes to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, new energy, and other fields, and promote cultural exchanges with China, he said, adding that Chinese companies investing and seeking cooperation in Spain have significantly boosted the country's economic development.

The Spanish prime minister stressed upholding multilateralism and promoting a multipolar world to bring lasting peace for humanity in face of a complex and challenging international situation and frequent conflicts.

Spain actively supports the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi and is willing to maintain close communication and cooperation with China to jointly address challenges in international geopolitics, trade protectionism, and climate change, and uphold international law and multilateralism, Sanchez said.

He said Spain opposes a new Cold War and decoupling, and supports enhanced communication and understanding and strengthened cooperation between Europe and China. He believes the sound development of Europe-China relations is in the common interests of both sides and is also conducive to world peace and stability.