SPANISH prime minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed a former UK leader to Madrid on Thursday for talks on global finance and artificial intelligence (AI) governance.
The meeting with Gordon Brown, who led the UK from 2007 to 2010, took place on Thursday at the Moncloa Palace, as the pair reviewed the international situation and the need to build new pillars of cooperation.
Sanchez expressed the support of Spain for the new diplomatic mission of Brown.
Brown recently became the UK’s Special Envoy for Global Finance and Cooperation under embattled prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
His mission aims to strengthen international cooperation on public health, climate change, biotechnology and economic justice.
The Spanish premier praised the initiative as ‘necessary’, given the current geopolitical climate.
Sanchez said Spain shares the vision of Brown on reforming global institutions and modernising international governance.
Government sources said discussions also touched on the work of Spain in the regulation of artificial intelligence.
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The meeting comes at a difficult moment for the Labour government in the UK, following heavy losses in local elections.
The Madrid meeting came on the same day as the resignation from government of UK health secretary Wes Streeting.
Streeting said he had lost confidence in Starmer’s leadership, claiming the PM would not lead the party into the next general election.
Brown served as British prime minister and Labour leader from 2007 to 2010.
The former PM remains one of the most influential senior figures in the party.
Before entering Downing Street, Brown spent 10 years as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Tony Blair.
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