RIGA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who had arrived in Riga on a one-day visit Tuesday, met with his Latvian counterpart Maris Kucinskis to discuss topics concerning regional security, the situation in Europe, as well as bilateral relations between Latvia and Spain, a Latvian official statement said.
During the talks attention was paid to the fact that Spain is among the nations contributing troops and military equipment to the multinational NATO battlegroup stationed in Latvia. Spain is represented by 310 servicemen, 15 Pizarro tanks and six Leopardo armored vehicles in the battalion-sized unit.
Furthermore, 130 Spanish soldiers and four F18 fighter jets are currently involved in the NATO-led airspace policing mission in the Baltics. Their mission, which is the Spanish forces' fourth in the Baltics, will last from May to August.
Kucinskis told Rajoy about reforms Latvia has been implementing various areas, especially emphasizing Latvia's tax reform plans which at the moment are passing through parliament.
"We have a 5 percent GDP growth target. To achieve it, we need a tax policy that would enable us to compete with other EU member states and attract investment, including from Spain," the Latvian premier told Rajoy.
The talks between the Latvian and Spanish leaders also dealt with Rail Baltica European-gauge railway project, which is the largest infrastructure project in the Baltic region aimed at connecting Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia with the rest of the EU to significantly improve the region's mobility and facilitate trade.
Kucinskis and Rajoy also turned attention to developments in Europe related to Britain's departure from the EU, or Brexit, the EU' next multiannual programming period and other current affairs, with both sides concurring on the necessity for Europe to stay united on these issues.
