BEIJING - China will work with Spanish new king Felipe VI to advance bilateral ties, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Spokeswoman Hua Chunying told the ministry' s regular press briefing that Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his congratulations to the new king on Thursday, noting that China has confidence in Spain' s continued prosperity under the leadership of King Felipe VI.

China attaches great importance to relations with Spain, she said.

Former King Juan Carlos I is an old friend of China and has made important contributions to the friendship between the two countries as well as the two peoples, she added.

King Felipe VI has paid several visits to China when he was the crown prince, according to the spokeswoman.