China's trade team inked over 20 deals worth US$320 million with Spanish firms in Madrid on Thursday, ending the third leg of the four-state procurement tour after visiting Germany and Switzerland.

Those deals, witnessed by Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Miguel Sebastian, referred to a wide range of industrial and agricultural commodities, including aircraft simulators, auto parts, steel, wool, marble, seafood, olive oil, wine and ham.

The visit is meant to boost the bilateral cooperation and fight against trade protectionism amid the economic recession, said Chen.

The trade between China and Spain has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with the bilateral trade volume hitting US$26.2 billion in 2008. Thus, China became Spain's biggest trading partner outside the E.U. This figure is hoped to reach US$40 billion through joint efforts in 2011, according to Chen.

A group of Spanish firms will also go to China in April and September this year to attend a trade forum in southwestern Sichuan province and an expo in Guangdong province, said the Spanish Minister.