Calderón, on a six-day tour of Europe, was making his first visit to Madrid since taking office on Dec. 1.

On Monday evening, Calderón had dinner with Spanish King Juan Carlos, who offered praise for Mexico´s anti-terrorism efforts.

"Spain is profoundly grateful for Mexico´s generous and firm collaboration so we can achieve the objective of putting an end to the cruel, inhuman and unacceptable curse of terrorism," the Spanish monarch said in a statement to the press.

He also expressed thanks for the stable business environment that Mexico has offered to Spanish companies.

On Tuesday, Calderón is to meet with Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero at the prime minister´s residence and office on the outskirts of Madrid.

The visit will confirm the "excellent relationship" between the two countries and their interest in strengthening economic ties, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

MAIN EUROPEAN PARTNER

Spain is Mexico´s main European Union trade partner. Between 2000 and 2005, Spain has invested some euro15 billion (US$19.4 billion), mainly in the telecommunications, electrical and bank sectors in the Latin American country.

Earlier in the day, Calderón met with Britisth Prime Minister Tony Blair, who praised Mexico on Monday as a model for Latin American countries.

Following talks with President Felipe Calderón in London, Blair was asked about the threat to international ties posed by the Latin America´s bloc of leftist governments, and said that shared values were key to maintaining ties. Blair said that Calderón was pursuing policies of attracting investment, improving public services and attempting to combine economic prosperity and social justice.

"My judgment is that is the best way for countries to develop in a world that is increasingly open," Blair told reporters.

In a joint statement, Blair and Calderón praised Mexico´s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and praised progress at developing a "freer and fairer global trading system."

Mexico´s attempts to reduce emissions were "an example of how an emerging economy can play an active role in contributing to solve a global problem," the communique said.

Blair and Calderón said their nations "wanted to secure an ambitious, pro-development outcome to the World Trade Organization trade round."

Calderón´s European tour has included visits to Germany, Britain and Switzerland, where he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos with other world leaders. Calderón flew to Madrid after meeting in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair for talks on climate change and trade.