Barcelona - Spain's second-biggest city Barcelona has hired Telma Ortiz, 35, sister of Crown Princess Letizia, to manage its relations with Asia and the Pacific, the city hall announced Friday.

An economist who has worked for development projects on several continents, Ortiz will try to launch new relations with countries such as India, Pakistan, Vietnam or the Philippines, the city hall said.

Ortiz was also to strengthen existing relations with China and Japan, and generally seek to consolidate Barcelona's position in the Mediterranean region.

In 2008, Ortiz failed to win court protection from 57 media outlets which she wanted to stop publishing pictures or footage of her, accusing them of harassment.

Telma's older sister, former news anchor Letizia Ortiz, married Crown Prince Felipe in 2004. Telma is Letizia's only remaining sister after the youngest, Erika, died in 2007. (dpa)