Jun 26, 2009, 11:06 GMT
Spain's King Carlos opened Australia's first Spanish cultural centre yesterday (25.06.09).
The 71-year-old monarch and his wife Queen Sofia toured the Cervantes Institute in Sydney yesterday.
The royal couple inspected the centre's library and listened to a performance of Spanish Renaissance pieces by the Sydney Chamber Choir.
They also met politicians and dignitaries from Australia and Spain.
The Cervantes centre is the first dedicated Spanish cultural facility in Australia. It promotes Spanish languages and culture around the world.
Later, Carlos addressed the Spain Business Forum, where he spoke about Australia and Spain's "valuable and outstanding similarities.
He said: "Both countries have an economy which is becoming increasingly knowledge-based, a highly qualified workforce, flexible and competitive markets and a very liberalised foreign trade regime.
"In the context of a global world, these shared features enable us to develop a fertile and profitable bilateral relationship in terms of commerce and bilateral investments.
"It also explains why Spanish companies in Australia have significantly increased in number over the last years."
The monarch said he hoped his visit to Australia would strengthen co-operation and "friendly relations" between the two countries.
He added: "With this state visit to Australia I have aimed to convey Spain's desire and commitment to strengthen its political and cultural and economic relations with this great country."
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