Spain uses food to boost China links

MADRID - Spanish gastronomy is vital to help boost Spain's profile in China, says Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros, the high commissioner for Marca Espana, a Spanish government institution set up to promote Spain's image abroad.

He says Marca Espana planned to have a greater presence in Asia, and especially in China. "One of the tools we have to promote is our gastronomy, which along with fashion and sport, leads the strategy to enter into important markets such as China."

Although Spanish food is not well known in China, progress is being made in popularizing Spanish culinary traditions in the Asian giant, Espinosa de los Monteros says.