Felipe VI and Xi Jinping attend the signing of ten agreements on economic, trade, food, cultural and scientific cooperation

Eduardo González The second day of the King and Queen's state visit to China included a bilateral meeting on Wednesday between King Felipe VI and President Xi Jinping, who attended the signing of ten cooperation agreements in agriculture, fisheries and food, economy and trade, science and innovation, culture, and education. The day began with an official welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People by Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, which included a review of the troops. Following this, a bilateral meeting took place between the two heads of state, while the Queen and the First Lady traveled to the Demonstration Center for Services for People with Disabilities. After this bilateral meeting, the King highlighted "the relationship of trust, the solid relationship, the bilateral relations of mutual trust based on the principles of respect and shared prosperity" existing between the two countries, which have shown "a willingness to work together to seek opportunities for the well-being of both peoples." For his part, Xi expressed his desire to further deepen the relationship between Spain and China, “an example of friendly coexistence and joint development between countries with different histories, cultures, and social systems, also contributing significantly to global cooperation for open development and the defense of international equity and justice.” To this end, the Chinese leader advocated for a comprehensive strategy “firmer in its orientation, more dynamic in its development, and with greater international influence” because, in a turbulent international landscape like the current one, “the world needs more constructive forces committed to peace and development.” Following this, the two heads of state attended the signing ceremony for cooperation documents, ten bilateral agreements of strategic interest affecting five ministries: Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Science, Culture, and Education. Specifically, the two official delegations (including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and the Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo) signed three memoranda of understanding, three protocols, one agreement, one accord, and one declaration. Among the most significant agreements are the creation of a Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation and the memorandum of understanding for accessing the Chinese market for Spanish exports through the establishment of a single window system to address obstacles for Spanish exports to China. In the area of food, Spain and China also signed a protocol on aquaculture products, fish oil and fishmeal for animal feed, and another agreement on regionalizing the response to African swine fever and food safety. Regarding cultural and scientific cooperation, the two delegations signed a cooperation agreement between the Cervantes Institute and Sichuan University. The objective of this agreement, signed by Albares and the University President, is to promote the teaching, study, and use of Spanish and contribute to the dissemination of culture, as well as other programs for exchange and collaboration between the two institutions, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A cooperation agreement was also signed between the Institute of Marine Sciences of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the National Space Science Center (NSSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), an agreement between the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC) and the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics & Technology on Scientific, Technological and Academic Cooperation, and another agreement from the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA) on Film and Audiovisual Co-production, in addition to a declaration for the promotion of the teaching of Spanish and Chinese languages at pre-university levels. Following this, the King and Queen laid a wreath at the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square. The King then proceeded to the Great Hall of the People, where he met with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. Later, at the same location, King Felipe, accompanied by Albares and Cuerpo, met with Li Qiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China, who was appointed in March 2023. According to the Royal Household, Li Qiang “is known for his liberal economic policies and his support for the private sector, particularly in technology.” Gala dinner In the evening, a gala dinner was held in the Great Hall of the People, hosted by President Xi Jinping and the First Lady in honor of the King and Queen. In his speech, King Felipe VI noted that “China is, today, Spain’s main trading partner outside the European Union” and that “Chinese investment in Spain is very significant in renewable energy and the production of electric vehicles, while Spanish investment in China is concentrated in sectors such as energy, services, and consulting.” “More than 260,000 citizens of Chinese origin reside and work in our country, contributing to its growth and prosperity,” he continued. The King also emphasized the role of culture, “one of the strongest pillars of our bilateral relationship.” “China has more than 60,000 students of Spanish, and our language is taught in 106 universities. It is worth remembering that Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world by native speakers, after Mandarin Chinese,” he stated. “Spain already has two official cultural centers in China, two Cervantes Centers: one in Beijing, which we were able to inaugurate in 2006, and a more recent one in Shanghai,” he added. “In a complex and uncertain geopolitical context, Spain believes it is essential to preserve a world order based on rules, multilateralism, and cooperation,” the King warned. “In the dialogue on how to address the major global challenges, China’s voice and commitment have and will continue to have enormous importance,” he affirmed. “Looking ahead to the coming decades, Spain and China aspire to further deepen a relationship that places special emphasis on innovation and sustainability,” the King continued. “We are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our Strategic Partnership with a new action plan that will renew and strengthen our bilateral agenda, and which will be endorsed, during this trip, with the signing of agreements of strategic interest in areas such as the economy, agriculture, science, and universities,” he added.

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