Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero highlighted here on Tuesday the importance of Russia on the world stage following his meeting with visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
"We have discussed the need for good relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation, between Russian and the USA and between the USA and the European union," Zapatero said at a press conference following their meeting.
"We think it is an essential triangle for world politics and security. We have hopes of living a period of good relations between the U.S. and Russia," Zapatero said.
Zapatero said he was pleased with the meeting, which came at the end of President Medvedev's two day state visit to Spain.
"It has been a very successful meeting with practical results and other agreements over the transit of military personal and equipment through Russia for troops in Afghanistan.
"International order and security and the stability of Europe and the future of energy supplies have a determining actor in Russia," he added.
The two leaders discussed the access of NATO troops through Russian territory en-route to Afghanistan.
They also signed several cooperation accords on railways, tourism and energy.
While announcing that unemployment in Spain has reached 3.5 million, Zapatero said he hoped Russia could play a part in ending the current global economic crisis.
"We have spoken about the economic crisis and hope that in Spain's presidency of the EU we make progress in energy affairs and also with relations with Russia," he said.
"In international affair, and in terms of the economic crisis, we have looked ahead to the forthcoming meeting in London.
The crisis has extended to all countries in a short time and to all areas. Only a big effort from all governments can give us a different scenario in a short time," said Zapatero.
Leaders from the G20 group will meet in London on April 2 to discuss ways of combating the financial and economic crisis and reforming the world financial institutions.