During an official visit to Beijing on Wednesday, Spain’s King Felipe VI met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to sign multiple agreements aimed at enhancing language exchange, trade relations, and broader cooperation between their nations. This marks King Felipe's inaugural visit to China, underscoring Spain’s intention to deepen its connections with the Chinese capital.
The Spanish monarch, accompanied by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, received a ceremonial welcome featuring a military band and a 21-gun salute at the Great Hall of the People, reflecting the significance of this diplomatic visit.
In their discussions, Xi expressed China's commitment to fostering a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Spain, particularly amidst today’s intricate global dynamics. The signed agreements entail collaboration in economic areas, language initiatives, and the export of Spanish aquatic products to China, alongside dialogue aimed at enhancing trade tied to renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and sustainable technologies.
Beginning his visit in Chengdu, King Felipe engaged with Spanish business leaders at a Spain-China business forum in the presence of the country’s foreign and economy ministers. Spain, with its population of 49.4 million, is increasingly recognized as one of the EU nations eager to engage with China. Currently, Chinese exports to Spain surpass the latter's exports to China, presenting opportunities for a more equitable trade balance.
This visit is a continuation of a series of high-level exchanges, notably Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s third trip to China in April. In recent years, Spanish and Chinese enterprises have forged numerous agreements, such as the partnership between CATL and Stellantis to construct a battery factory in northern Spain, along with collaborations in green hydrogen infrastructure. Spain’s commitment to renewable energy, which contributed to more than half of its electricity last year, partially relies on access to Chinese resources, solar innovations, and technology.
King Felipe is also scheduled to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, the chairman of China’s legislative body, furthering Spain’s strategic initiatives to bolster economic, cultural, and technological ties with one of the world’s leading economies.
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