MADRID, April 8 (KUNA) -- King Juan Carlos of Spain is to embark on a tour to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Kuwait and UAE between April 13-16, Oman and Bahrain by end of April, and Saudi Arabia and Qatar in May, Spanish foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
During his visits, the Spanish King is to head a high-level delegation that includes Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, Minister of Defense Pedro Morenes, Minister of Transport and Development Ana Pastor, Minister of Industry, Energy, and Tourism Jose Manuel Soria, and a number of representatives of top Spanish companies, said the statement.
The visits fall within framework of Spain's strategic interests in a number of countries that are known for their dynamic economies, prompting the Spanish government''''s desire to boost bilateral relations in political, economic, security, defense, and cultural fields, noted the statement.
Spanish ministers' frequent visits to GCC countries in past months indicated Spain's political desire to strengthen its strategic partnership with these countries, to be boosted by King Juan Carlos' tour, the statement added. (end) hnd.ma