BOSTON – Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe stressed Thursday the American identity of his country and the Hispanic identity of the Americas in a speech at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

The prince recalled Spain’s role in the history of the United States and said that the two countries “can work together throughout the Americas for the benefit of all societies in this area, and for ourselves.”

Felipe spoke about the mark Spain left on the history of the United States, recalling, for example, that Spaniards contributed to U.S. independence and that the 1812 Spanish Constitution was in force in territories that today are states of the union.

“Ultimately, I like to see Spain not just as a European, American and Mediterranean country, but rather as one with a truly universal reach,” the prince said after reviewing Spanish influence at the historical, cultural, linguistic, geopolitical and economic levels.

The prince emphasized the importance of Spanish in the United States, spoken by the country’s large and fast-growing Hispanic community.

At a global level, he said that Spanish is second only to Chinese in the number of native speakers, being spoken by 500 million people, particularly in the Americas, making it “essentially an American language.”

“(T)he Spanish monarchy remains deeply committed to the cause of democracy throughout Latin America,” Felipe said, adding that Spain is also committed to improving the economy and welfare of the region.

As for recent changes in Latin America, the prince recalled that the 2008 financial crisis made the regional economy “more dynamic” and recalled that 50 percent of foreign investment in the region comes from Spain.

“Undoubtedly, Spain’s economic presence across the entire American continent reinforces our country’s position as a key player in this hemisphere,” Prince Felipe said. EFE