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irst of all, the Princess and I would like to thank Secretary of State Clinton for her kind words and for her effort and interest in being here with us today working. This closing ceremony of the seventeenth Spain-USA Forum is our last engagement in country so it gives me the opportunity to sum up and reflect on our visit to the United States, which concludes today. Our stay here has been both memorable and I believe beneficial. Once again, I wish to recognize our American hosts and thank them wholeheartedly for the hospitality and affection we have received at every moment.
During these past few days, we have had the opportunity to contribute to our bilateral relations in many areas, with an intense agenda that has taken us from a top Spanish business school in New York, via the most historic and reputed university in the United States, to a keenly-anticipated meeting with some of the young Hispanic leaders of this great country, as well as other important events and working meetings in various fields, such as biotechnology, communications, culture, education and the business world. And, of course, now, at the end of our visit, to this Spain-US Forum, which has provided us with a better understanding of key issues such as the development of transport and infrastructure.
But I truly believe this visit could not have been otherwise; it has perfectly reflected the richness, intensity and diversity of our relationships, as peoples and as countries.
Just a couple of days ago, I referred to these very same questions at Harvard University when I said that Spain and the United States are bound together by a shared history that began almost five hundred years ago with the arrival of Juan Ponce de León off the coast of Florida. But it is not only history; we also share many cultural ties, in which our common roots are clearly visible: firstly, the Spanish language, whose growing popularity and position greatly due to the rise of the Hispanic comity in the US constantly enrich the strategic and cultural weight of the United States throughout the world; our geopolitical vision is shared, too, and is inseparable from the defence and advancement of democracy and freedom. Finally, we can not forget our common economic interests in numerous fields and sectors. As a result of all these important factors, we share a core body of principles and values that strengthen our relationship, based on mutual respect, trust and loyalty, which essentially means one of true friendship.
I wish to emphasise, in particular, my conviction that our cooperation should, in itself, send a powerful message of hope in the capacity of our private sectors to generate new activity and produce wealth and jobs. On both sides of the Atlantic, we believe in the progressive and reciprocal opening up of our markets, in order to realise our tremendous potential for trade in goods, services and investment and to lay the foundations for solid, long-lasting prosperity in our countries. As Benjamin Franklin said, in brief but eloquent words, "No nation was ever ruined by trade".
We must continue our resolute advance to reach this goal; in this respect, let us welcome our two countries? very recent signing of an agreement to avoid double taxation, which has met a legitimate and recurrent demand by our business sectors. Spain firmly believes in opening up trade relations with the United States, and has defended and will continue to defend this position within the European Union.
Estoy seguro, por otro lado, de que basados en lo mucho que tenemos en común seremos capaces de identificar más espacios yámbitos de colaboración donde nuestro quehacer conjunto se proyecte en beneficio de nuestras economías y sociedades, pero también del bienestar de otros pueblos y países. Me refiero, por supuesto, a América Latina, espacio multinacional al que España se halla indisolublemente unida por vínculos de todo tipo, al igual que los Estados Unidos en su condición de país americano. Me refiero asimismo a otras regiones del planeta donde nuestras dos naciones tienen visiones e intereses coincidentes. Tengo la certeza de que, en el mundo complejo y crecientemente globalizado de nuestros días, -especialmente en el contexto de grave crisis económica que atenaza a muchas economías como la española- un sólido marco de cooperación hispano-estadounidense redundará en beneficio de todos.
Termino ya mis palabras, Señora Secretaria de Estado, y le reitero nuestro agradecimiento por la cálida hospitalidad con que nos han acogido durante estos días y haciendo votos por que las posibilidades de colaboración muy amplias y diversas que se abren entre nuestros países encuentren los mejores cauces para su mayor y más fructífero desarrollo.
Muchas gracias.