Newly appointed Spanish Ambassador Gonzalo de Benito Secades said Thursday he hopes to enhance existing partnerships between Spain and Japan and build new ones.
"We can contribute by putting together the different knowledge our two countries have," de Benito said.
De Benito became Ambassador in December. He was speaking on a courtesy visit to The Japan Times.
He spoke of Spain's stable economy, which expects a growth of 2 percent in 2015. He said he hoped to reach new agreements with Japanese companies to work on, for example, renewable energy projects in regions such as Latin America and the Middle East.
"Spanish companies are among the 10 largest in the world in the construction sector and handling of infrastructure including highways and airports," he said. He added that Spain-Japan trade amounts to €4.5 billion.
He also said he wants to focus on improving knowledge of Spain in Japan. In 2014, the number of Japanese visitors to Spain leaped by 26 percent. Bilateral relations began 400 years ago.
De Benito spoke of the hostage crisis this year in Syria, saying the Spanish people stand shoulder to shoulder with Japan at this time.
He said there is scope for cooperation as fellow members of the United Nations Security Council, calling both countries advocates for human rights.