Spain celebrates 519th birthday

By Philip Iglauer

Spanish Ambassador to Korea Luis Arias-Romero in a speech at a reception said Spain looks to open its culture center in Seoul, Instituto Cervantes, by 2014 at the latest.

Spanish, as an official language, is spoken in 21 countries and is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Some 500 million people worldwide speak it and it is the second most widely spoken first language. Mandarin is the most widely spoken first language and English third.

Some 2,500 Korean students graduate with a degree in Spanish, Romero said in his reception speech, the ambassador said.

Spain and Korean also celebrated 61 years of bilateral relations that night. Bilateral trade is $3 billion annually, tilting 2 to 1 in favor of Korea. Romero said from 2008-2010 Spanish exports grew 32 percent.

Romero said the Spanish embassy organized 10 trade missions and Spain’s participation in two food fairs to promote Spanish products, including wine and food.

As if to underline his point, Spanish restaurants El Olivio, Spain Club and Bodega were on hand with delicious samples of their cuisine.

Korea and Spain have labeled their relationship a “strategic partnership,” which aims to increase trade and investment, in their Comprehensive Action Plan.

Romero said Spain looks forward to Yeosu Expo 2012.

“Taking into account the organizational capacity and quality of the Republic of Korea, I’m sure that it will be a great success, as was our Expo Zaragoza 2008,” he said.

Many high-level state visits occurred, reflecting the increasing diplomatic importance in bilateral relations. In January Prime Minister Kim Hwang-shik made a state visit to Spain.

In March, Vice Minister of Defense Constantino Mendez Martinez visited and Jose Bono Martinez, president of the Congress of Deputies, and Teresa Cunnillera, vice president of the Congress of Deputies, visited in April.