China is rediscovering itself with the rest of the world, the new Spanish Ambassador to China Manuel Maria Valencia Alonso said in an interview with Xinhua.

Noting the significant changes that have taken place in China after Spain and China established diplomatic relations 40 years ago, Valencia applauded the positive bilateral relationship between the two countries before he leaves Madrid to take up his position in Beijing on March 30.

He said Spain was one of the countries that enjoyed the best political links with China.

"I think Spain has been able to understand China very well and has supported it for a long time. China has also given a lot of very good support to Spain and I think we have an excellent relationship. We do have a deficit in knowledge of each other, but I think that this knowledge will come in time," he said.

Valencia highlighted that Spain and China are both international focal points for culture and there was a need for more exchanges which could generate favorable conditions for understanding each other and investment.

Commenting on Spain's current economic situation, Valencia said he believed the Spanish economy would improve in the future as it had taken measures to control public spending.

"Spain will be competitive," he said, adding that Spanish exports grew by four percent in 201.

Valencia also stressed the importance of the Chinese community in Spain and said the Spanish people generally had a high regard for Chinese residents in Spain, who are viewed as dynamic, honorable and hard-working.