CATALAN President Carles Puigdemont has confirmed to diplomats in Barcelona that the state’s referendum on secession from Spain will take place by September.

He was speaking to 60 consular officials in the Catalan capital Barcelona, and stressed his government’s determination to hold the poll despite “threats” from Spain’s central government, but he stressed that they would continue to try to reach an agreement with Madrid.

Puigdemont was joined at the consular corps annual meeting by Catalan foreign affairs minister, Raül Romeva, and Franca Lorella, Peru’s consul and chair of the corps in Barcelona.

“There is a unilateral opposition and stubbornness from the Spanish state,” he said, adding that it had lowered Catalan expectations of a deal being reached.

However, he insisted his government would not be discouraged: “The will of the Catalan citizens to exercise their right to self-determination is incorruptible.”

Puigdemont was also emphatic that the referendum would go ahead in September, at the latest.

“We are working for the referendum to have all the guarantees and standards, all the transcendence and responsibility. It will take place, it will be well-done and it will have all the legal and democratic guarantees so that the people will be able to decide.”

He said Catalonia and Barcelona had considerable “attraction power” to the rest of the world, and stressed the economic benefits of investment and ongoing trade with the state.

Last year it had “led the creation of business in the Spanish state and has been recognised as the best region in Southern Europe to invest in”.

Romeva urged the consular officials to help Catalonia remain an active part of the international community by recognising its own voice and contribution to addressing the challenges.

The gathering came as new figures showed the port of Barcelona had a record year in 2016 and was Spain’s most profitable.

Port President Sixte Cambra, said exports were up by 3.8 per cent while imports increased by 8.7 per cent.

The Asian-Oceania market now represented more than three quarters (77 per cent) of imports and 43 per cent of exports from the port. He said China alone accounted for 43 per cent of import containers, with a 13 per cent rise during last year.

China was also the leading destination for export containers. The US market represented 25 per cent of exports and nine per cent of imports.

Barcelona also saw a record number of cruise and ferry passengers – a 6.5 per cent rise to four million – who spent around €875 million (£744m) and supported more than 7,500 jobs.

Cambra said the port saw profits of €33.2m (£28.2m) on a turnover of €86.2m (£73.3) and had invested €25.9m (£22m) in various projects, including train access, a new terminal and urbanisation of some areas.