12.23.2010
Trinidad Jiménez meets with the Council Foundations
The reception aims to coordinate the Spanish Councils' activities and promote Spanish economic diplomacy.
Trinidad Jiménez, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, met with the presidents of all the Spanish Council-Foundations currently operating - those working with Australia, China, the United States, India, Japan, Mexico and Russia.
Representatives from the United States, China, Mexico, Australia, Japan and India Council Foundations attended the meeting. Primary among the topics discussed at the meeting was the role of Spanish civil society in promoting international relations with other countries, particularly with regard to economic diplomacy.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation stressed her department's firm commitment to promoting economic diplomacy, to boost exports and encourage Spanish investment in sectors where the country is a leader. These include infrastructure, transport, telecommunications, civil engineering, fashion, sport and cultural industry, sectors that are key to economic growth and job creation.
There are currently seven Council-Foundations promoted and coordinated from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The oldest is the Spain-United States Council Foundation, while the most recent is the Spain-Australia Council Foundation, created in July 2010.
New Council Foundations may soon be formed with countries vital to Spain's economic and cultural relations, such as Morocco and Brazil, bringing their civil societies closer together in the interests of mutual understanding.
