China's premier Wen Jiabao led a delegation expected to sign business deals in banking, telecommunications and other sectors during a visit to Spain that began today, The Associated Press reported. Wen, on a European tour, met briefly in Madrid with King Juan Carlos and was to confer also with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for talks focussing on the global financial crisis and bilateral relations. China is Spain's largest trade partner outside the EU. Chinese exports to Spain have more than doubled since 2003 and reached nearly ¤19 billion ($24 billion) in 2007. Spanish exports are just a fraction of that. Wen's ministerial and business delegation is due to sign deals with such Spanish companies as bank BBVA and telecommunications giant Telefonica. His tour has taken him to Germany, the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, and EU headquarters in Brussels. He will visit Britain Monday before returning home.
