<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared this Monday, just days before the official visit of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, that the ties between his country and Spain are "at the forefront of China's relations with European countries" and are based on "the spirit of respect, trust, and mutual benefit."</strong></h4> "Spain is an important partner of China in the European Union," declared Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during his daily press conference. "The two countries maintain the spirit of respect, trust, and mutual benefit in the development of their bilateral relations," he continued. "The ties between China and Spain are at the forefront of China's relations with European countries," he added, quoted by the state news agency Xinhua. Therefore, he asserted, Sánchez's visit represents "an opportunity" for "the two sides to deepen strategic mutual trust, expand openness and cooperation, join forces to address global challenges, and promote further development of bilateral relations." Lin's statements come just days before <a href="https://thediplomatinspain.com/en/2025/04/07/sanchez-travels-this-week-to-vietnam-and-china-two-of-the-main-victims-of-trumps-tariffs/">Sánchez's tour of Vietnam and China</a>, two of the countries in the world (with 46 and 34 percent respectively) hardest hit by the new trade tariffs announced last week by US President Donald Trump. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas. The trip takes place in a context marked by US tariffs (which will be 20 percent for the European Union) and with the Prime Minister's own insistence that the European Union diversify and open new markets in order to reduce excessive dependencies and, therefore, vulnerabilities, and achieve strategic autonomy. For Sánchez, this is his third visit to China in just three years. The two previous visits took place in March 2023 (the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations), during which Sánchez discussed Beijing's twelve-point proposal with President Xi Jinping to end the conflict in Ukraine, and in September 2024, during which he advocated for a negotiated solution to the tariff crisis between China and the EU and during which bilateral agreements on digital trade, services, investment, and cultural cooperation were signed. Furthermore, this visit coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Spain, signed in Madrid in 2005. In this context, President Xi himself has invited the King and Queen to pay a state visit to his country throughout 2025. According to sources at Moncloa, work is underway on this possible visit by Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to China. <h5><strong>Sánchez in Beijing</strong></h5> Sánchez's agenda in Beijing will begin on Friday with a breakfast with around 200 Chinese investors and will continue with a meeting with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang, after which he will address the media. The objective of this visit, in addition to helping strengthen relations and, if necessary, addressing the human rights situation in China, is primarily economic. Currently, China is, for the European Union, "a partner, a competitor, and a systemic rival," but Spain's objective is for Europe to prioritize China's role as a cooperation partner and seek a positive agenda with the Asian giant. On March 20, Pedro Sánchez declared, during the press conference following the last European Council, that his trip to China is "relevant for Europe" because it contributes to strengthening its "relations with other countries," he continued. "The world is very large, and Europe must be open to other powers and regional blocs," he added. “There are multiple opportunities that the European Union must seize in this rapidly changing international context to place itself at the center and lead the defense of a rules-based international order,” stated Pedro Sánchez. “We are actively working to reach out to the Global South and to such important powers as China,” and, in this context, Spain wants to “contribute” to the rapprochement between the EU and China, he concluded. China is one of Spain's main trading partners, but there is a huge trade imbalance between the two countries in favor of the Asian country. Spain imports €45 billion from China and exports €7.4 billion, a deficit of €38 billion that represents no less than 70 to 80 percent of Spain's total trade deficit. Therefore, the objective of this trip is obviously to work toward balanced economic relations, based on reciprocity, mutual benefit, and trust, and to improve Spanish exports. <h5><strong>Von der Leyen and Li</strong></h5> On another note, European Commission President Usrunal von der Leyen held a telephone conversation with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday to discuss, among other issues, relations between the two sides in the current global context, with particular attention to the crisis generated by US tariffs. During the conversation, according to the Commission, Von der Leyen underscored "the responsibility" of Europe and China, as two of the world's largest markets, to support "a strong, free, fair, and level-playing trading system" and called for a negotiated solution to the current situation in order to "avoid further escalation." The President of the European Commission also defended "the stability and predictability of the global economy" and stressed "the urgency of finding structural solutions that will rebalance the bilateral trade relationship and guarantee better access for European companies, products, and services to the Chinese market." <div class="lRu31" dir="ltr"><span class="HwtZe" lang="en"><span class="jCAhz ChMk0b"><span class="ryNqvb">This Monday, Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho reported at a press conference that Sánchez has coordinated his messages with Von der Leyen in preparation for his trip to China.</span></span> <span class="jCAhz"><span class="ryNqvb">In her conversations with various EU leaders, the spokesperson stated, Von der Leyen exchanges, "to the extent possible (...), points of view and messages to remain as coordinated as possible," the spokesperson added, specifically referring to the Prime Minister's trip.</span></span></span> <div class="OvtS8d"></div> <div id="ow405"></div> </div> <div class="UdTY9 WdefRb" aria-hidden="true" data-location="2"></div>
