Chinese President Hu Jintao told Spanish Crown Prince Felipe de Borbon y Grecia Wednesday that China will work with Spain to boost bilateral relations.

Hu was in Spain for a stopover after winding up a 13-day, four-nation Latin American tour during which he attended the 12th APEC economic leaders' meeting in Chile.

Hu said China highly appreciates the efforts of the Spanish Royal Family in promoting China-Spain ties.

Felipe paid tribute to China's modern development, saying China's industrialization drive has scored huge successes and that the country is playing an ever greater role in world affairs.

Spain looks forward to broadening cooperation with China and getting more actively involved in China's economic development, he said.

Spain would be glad to share its experiences with China in hosting the Olympic Games and the World Exposition, the Prince said.

China's capital Beijing will host the 2008 summer Olympic Games while the 2010 world expo will be held in Shanghai, China's biggest city and business hub.

Sino-Spanish relations have developed smoothly since they established full diplomatic ties in 1973. Spain is China's sixth largest trading partner in Europe with two-way trade standing at US$5.25 billion last year.

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2004)