SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 12 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Tenerife is actively marketing itself in China to attract fresh investments during the 9th Spain-China Forum, organised by the Association for Friendship of the Chinese People with Foreign Countries and the Spain-China Council Foundation, which saw participation from high-ranking political figures from both nations.
The Vice President and Minister of Tourism, Lope Afonso, emphasised in a statement that “China represents a destination with significant potential for investment, commerce, and cultural collaboration, and the island is not merely a site of stunning natural beauty, but also serves as a vital connection hub between Europe, Africa, and Latin America, acting as a genuine bridge between continents.”
In Afonso’s view, Tenerife “has solidified its offering in essential sectors such as tourism, technology, renewable energies, and agriculture, fields in which we aim to broaden our connections with China.”
Furthermore, he added, “the island boasts modern infrastructure, dedicated economic zones, and a business environment that encourages investment and trade.”
Pedro González, the insular director of Foreign Action and Institutional Relations of the Cabildo de Tenerife, represented the region as a speaker at the forum.
In his address to the audience gathered in the Golden Hall of the Beijing Hotel, he outlined “the tourist advantages of Tenerife, its economic and fiscal inducements for attracting investment, along with the opportunities for local collaboration with the Asian powerhouse.”
This forum serves as the principal public diplomacy gathering between Spain and China, establishing a venue for the political, academic, business, and social elite of both nations to engage in discussions on matters of bilateral or global significance.
“In this manner, the island of Tenerife was granted a voice for the first time within the foremost platform for relations and idea exchange that Spain maintains with one of the world’s leading economies,” underscores González.
While addressing issues of local cooperation, in conjunction with discussions on tourism and investment attraction, González highlighted the strategic focuses that have been established over the past year concerning international cooperation for development, conducted by the island’s institution in collaboration with various local entities and universities in Latin America and West Africa.
Thus, the importance of reinforcing relationships between nations via local cooperation, in which the Tenerife Island Council plays a crucial role in the region, was reaffirmed.
