On May 7, Luis Calvo, the Consul General of Spain in Shanghai, visited SPI/SAI. Vice President Wang Yongjie presided over the meeting. Relevant personnel from the Foreign Affairs Office also attended the meeting.

On behalf of SPI/SAI, Wang Yongjie extended a warm welcome to the Consul General for the visit. He introduced the basic information about SPI/SAI and reviewed the interaction history between SPI/SAI and relevant institutions in Spain. He said that Spain is a trustworthy good partner of China in the European Union while Shanghai is an important bridge for friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Spain. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. As an important institution directly led by the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and specializing in the training of Party leaders and civil servants, SPI/SAI attaches great importance to friendly exchanges with all sectors in Spain. In 2021, SPI/SAI signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with Spanish National School of Administration. WANG yongjie hopes that the Consulate General of Spain in Shanghai will continue to support SPI/SAI in conducting exchanges and cooperation with relevant Spanish institutions.

Calvo thanked SPI/SAI for the invitation. He pointed out that Spain and China enjoy a long history of exchanges. In recent years, high-level exchanges between the two sides have been particularly close. The Chinese government has further eased and improved its visa-free transit policy, providing convenience for Spanish citizens to come to China and further enhancing the understanding and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries. He said that this visit gave him a more comprehensive understanding of SPI/SAI. He is willing to play an active role in deepening academic exchanges and cooperation between relevant Spanish institutions and SPI/SAI. He looks forward to facilitating more visits from Spanish experts and scholars, particularly in areas such as the training of senior civil servants and urban governance.

After the meeting, Calvo visited the SPI/SAI History Hall, media training room, psychological training room and other teaching facilities of SPI/SAI.