Yao Jing says China will increase imports from Spain

Luis Ayllón The ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Madrid, Yao Jing, assured that his country will expand Spanish imports and improve the trade balance between the two countries. Ya Jing made this statement during the reception he offered last Thursday at his residence in the capital of Spain to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which was attended by numerous guests. The ambassador's words come amid trade tensions between the European Union and China, as a result of Brussels' proposal to impose additional tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese imports of electric vehicles. During the speech he gave at the reception, Yao Jing referred to the trip that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, made at the beginning of this month of September to China, in which he asked his European partners to reconsider the decision on tariffs. Sánchez's position distancing himself from this proposal, which could affect the export of some Spanish products to China, such as those of the pork sector, or large Chinese investments in Spain, was welcomed by Beijing. And at the reception, Ambassador Yao Jing, although he did not say it expressly, made it clear with his words. Jing said that, during his visit, Sánchez exchanged points of view with the Chinese leaders on the main strategic issues of bilateral relations, "pointing out the course to follow for the deepening of bilateral cooperation." And, after recalling that China is Spain's first commercial partner outside the European Union, and that cooperation in areas such as the green economy, trade in services and digital trade has broad prospects, he announced that "China will expand Spanish imports and improve the trade balance. The ambassador also noted that 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Spain Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, saying that “the two countries should adhere to mutual respect and equal treatment and enrich that partnership and “forge relations of strategic firmness and lasting stability, and add new dimensions to bilateral ties.” Yao Jing, who stated that the 50 years of Spanish-Chinese cooperation have been very productive, thanked the congratulatory message sent by His Majesty the King to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China. The ambassador assured that in these 75 years, the Communist Party of China (CPC), together with the Chinese people, has managed to undertake the modernization of the country. “China has fulfilled its first 100-year goal, built a moderately prosperous society, lifted 800 million people out of poverty and contributed more than 30% to global economic growth for many consecutive years,” he said. The ambassador also said that China “adheres to an independent and peaceful foreign policy, and promotes development, security and civilization initiatives.” After the ambassador's words, the third vice president of the Congress of Deputies, Esther Gil de Reboleño, spoke. She is a member of the Plurinational Parliamentary Group Sumar, several of whose representatives also attended the reception. Among them was the spokesperson in the Foreign Affairs Committee and former permanent representative of Spain to the UN, Agustín Santos, accompanied by the group's advisor Pedro Chaves, as well as the deputy and general secretary of the Communist Party, Enrique Santiago. Also present were the Bildu deputies Maite Aizpurúa and Ion Iñarritu. The PSOE was represented by the spokesman for the Socialist Group in the Madrid Assembly, Juan Lobato, together with the former socialist minister Miguel Sebastián. Numerous ambassadors, especially from the Asian world, as well as representatives of Spanish and Chinese companies, also attended the reception. [caption id="attachment_95693" align="alignnone" width="750"] Esther Gil de Reboleño, Third Vice-President of Congress, during her speech.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_95697" align="alignnone" width="750"] The leader of the PSOE in Madrid, Juan Lobato, talks to the ambassador in the presence of former minister Miguel Sebastián.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_95721" align="alignnone" width="750"] Ambassador Yao Jing with the executive vice-president of Fundación Alternativas, Diego López Garrido[/caption] [caption id="attachment_95699" align="alignnone" width="750"] Ramón Moreno and Mónica Vallejo, from the Spain-China Council Foundation.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_95701" align="alignnone" width="750"] From right to left. Agustín Santos, Juan Moscoso and Pedro Chaves.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_95695" align="alignnone" width="750"] The reception was attended by numerous guests.[/caption]

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