<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>King Felipe VI concluded his state visit to China, accompanied by Queen Letizia, with a meeting with the Spanish community in the Asian country. He defended China's role as a “key player on the international stage” and Spain's “fruitful dialogue, both European and uniquely its own,” with China in defense of the “values” of “democracy, international law, human rights, and multilateral cooperation.”</strong></h4> “It is a joy, for the Queen and me, to meet with the Spanish community residing in Beijing,” the King stated in his address. “We do so shortly before returning to Spain and are satisfied with how this first state visit to China, our fourth since we established diplomatic relations five decades ago, has gone,” he continued. “During these three days,” the King explained, “we have carried out an agenda with significant institutional, economic, and cultural content.” “Our visit represents the renewal of a shared commitment: to continue building a pragmatic relationship based on dialogue, mutual respect and benefit, friendship, and broad and ambitious cooperation,” he continued. The visit officially began on Tuesday, November 11, and concluded this Thursday. “Spain has an increasingly strong presence in China, where it is better known and valued as a constructive and reliable partner,” the King affirmed. “This recognition is also a result of the trust you Spaniards who live and work here have generated. Today, there are more than 5,200 of you residing in China, a diverse and active community that contributes, from many different fields, to strengthening the ties between our countries,” Felipe VI emphasized. “China is today a key player on the international stage, facing enormous challenges and ongoing transformations,” the King noted. “Spain maintains a fruitful dialogue with it, one that is both European and uniquely its own,” he continued. “We will continue to defend our values: democracy, international law, human rights, and multilateral cooperation, based on our firm belief in who we are as a nation—a modern, supportive, creative, open Spain, committed to the great challenges of our time,” he added. On the third and final day of the State Visit, the King presided over a working breakfast with the Spain-China Business Advisory Council in Beijing, where they discussed new opportunities for collaboration, especially in sectors intensive in innovation and technological development. He also visited the Gestamp plant, where he toured the facilities of the Spanish component manufacturer. Meanwhile, the Queen presided over the university event “Spanish in China,” held at Beijing Foreign Studies University, which has over one hundred students of Spanish. The King concluded Wednesday by attending, along with the Queen, a gala dinner hosted by President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan in their honor. 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 heavily concentrated 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. “In a complex and uncertain geopolitical landscape, 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 major global challenges, China’s voice and commitment have been and will continue to be of enormous importance,” he affirmed. <h5><strong>Spanish-Chinese Joint Commission</strong></h5> On Wednesday morning, the King and the President of China, along with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, attended the signing ceremony for cooperation documents. These ten bilateral agreements of strategic interest affect five ministries: Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Science, Culture, and Education. Among these agreements, the signing by Carlos Cuerpo and the Chinese Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, of a memorandum of understanding stands out. This agreement aims to deepen economic relations between the two countries and elevates the status of the Spanish-Chinese Joint Commission, allowing it to meet more frequently and at the ministerial level. “This agreement marks a very important step in building a stronger and more balanced relationship with the world’s second-largest economy,” stated Cuerpo. The memorandum reinforces the objectives of the 2025-2028 Action Plan signed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during his official visit to China last April to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Spain. It also seeks to intensify exchanges, expand areas of collaboration, and consolidate a solid and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship. Among the commitments reached are the annual holding of the Joint Commission at the ministerial level, the creation of biannual follow-up mechanisms at the level of Secretary of State, and annual follow-up mechanisms at the level of Director General. These meetings will alternate between Spain and China, ensuring constant dialogue and effective coordination.
