King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia will visit the Philippines next year, visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Tuesday night.

Moratinos said the Majesties have received President Arroyo's invitation but "there is no final date yet" as to when they will be coming over to Manila.

Moratinos made the announcement in a press conference attended by local media and Spanish press at the Goldenberg Mansion in Malacanang Palace Complex last Tuesday shortly after his bilateral meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Three bilateral agreements were signed, namely, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and Escuela Diplomatica, the memorandum of agreement between the Dept. of Health, Dept. of Budget and Management, and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development and the agreement on the remunerated employment for dependents of diplomatic and consular officials.

Romulo welcomed the visit of the royalties, citing that the King of Spain has interceded in saving the life of Filipino worker May Vecina who was found guilty of slitting the throat of her six-year old ward.

"We welcome the visit of the Majesties. This high-level visit is important in deepening the relationship between Spain and the Philippines," Romulo said.

This will be the fifth visit of the King to the Philippines.

"The King has been instrumental in helping our OFWs. He is a respected figure in the Middle East," he said.

Last July 8, Kuwaiti Emir Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah formally signed the Amiri decrees that downgraded the death sentence slapped on Vecina to life imprisonment.

In April 2008, Vecina was sentenced to death for the killing of her six-year-old ward and the double frustrated murder of her employer's two other children on Jan. 6, 2007.

During the meeting, Romulo said he had "fruitful and productive discussions" on both bilateral and regional issues with Moratinos.

He noted that under the health agreement inked between the two countries, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation is providing a grant of 5 million euros to contribute to the improvement of the health infrastructure in the Bicol and Caraga region.

Moratinos thanked President Arroyo and Romulo for making Spain-Philippines relations closer.

"We aim to start a new chapter of our bilateral relations.We are moving in a friendly atmosphere," he said.

Romulo said that Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero invited President Arroyo to be a member of the commission that pushes for the abolition of the death penalty.