Spanish language takes centre stage

King Juan Carlos of Spain has opened the Second International Congress of the Spanish Language in the city of Valladolid.

The king said Spanish had become an important asset for what he called the community of countries which speak it.

More than 300 experts on the language, as well as prominent writers, the Spanish prime minister, and the presidents of Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Equatorial Guinea attended the inauguration.

The participants are discussing the language as an economic asset, as the influence other languages have had on Spanish.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service