Sánchez calls for greater Chinese involvement to halt conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Lebanon

Eduardo González Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, on Monday (the first day of his official visit to Beijing), noted that the European Union has signed trade agreements with 25 countries and urged China to "do the same: open up so that Europe doesn't have to close itself off." He also called for greater involvement from the Asian giant in upholding international law and in ending the conflicts in Ukraine, Lebanon, and Iran. Sánchez made these remarks during his lecture at Tsinghua University in Beijing, before an audience composed mainly of students from one of China's most prestigious and influential academic institutions, according to a press release from Moncloa Palace. According to the Prime Minister, 16th-century Spain already “knew the greatness of China, knew that Beijing was not on the periphery of the world, but one of its centers, and present-day Spain knows this too; it knows that China is rebuilding its greatness, that it is already the world's leading exporter of goods and the fourth largest in services.” In this regard, the Prime Minister asserted that what is currently happening is not a “transfer of hegemonies” but a “multiplication of poles” of power and prosperity. “For the first time in contemporary history, progress is germinating simultaneously in several places around the world,” he stated. In this context, Sánchez advocated, “from a place of realism, pragmatism, and, without a doubt, responsibility,” and without forgetting the existing disagreements with China, for “building a relationship based on mutual respect, a respect that allows us to cooperate as much as possible, compete where necessary, and manage our differences when they are unavoidable.” “Spain defends this vision; it does so in Madrid, it does so in Brussels, and it will do so wherever necessary,” he affirmed. Likewise, the Prime Minister defended a renewed multilateralism that reflects “the balance of power and the sensitivities of today’s world” and advocated for transforming the United Nations, with a more representative Security Council in which all regions have a voice and a vote, to move towards a more democratic decision-making system. European Union and global conflicts Sánchez also defended the need for China to move towards more balanced relations with its trading partners and recalled that, in the last decade alone, the European Union has signed agreements with 25 countries and increased imports from the Global South by 80 percent. “We need China to do the same: to open up, so that Europe doesn’t have to close itself off,” he stated. “Europe may look small on a map, but its weight is decisive, and its unity is a guarantee of stability and prosperity in the world, a world that cannot be understood without China,” the Prime Minister warned. “If China and Europe were able to prosper together in the past, there is no reason why they cannot do so again; we are destined to understand each other,” he added. Furthermore, the Prime Minister warned of the need for greater involvement from major powers in the management and provision of public goods to address challenges such as combating climate change, developing responsible artificial intelligence, controlling nuclear arsenals, and eradicating poverty. Along these lines, he called on China to play a more active role in upholding international law and helping to end the conflicts in Ukraine, Lebanon, and Iran. Following this, the Prime Minister visited an exhibition of scientific and technological projects at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he was awarded an Honorary Chair at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). Later, Pedro Sánchez met with Lei Jun, founder of the Chinese technology company Xiaomi, at the company's headquarters in Beijing. During the meeting, Sánchez affirmed that Spain offers a competitive industrial and logistical ecosystem for high-level technological cooperation projects between Chinese and Spanish companies. He highlighted the technological capabilities, talent, and reliability of the Spanish industrial sector, with a view to exploring new potential collaboration projects with Xiaomi. Along these lines, he emphasized Spain's growing role as a European hub for digital infrastructure, data centers, and AI projects. Before the meeting, Lei Jun accompanied Pedro Sánchez on a visit to an exhibition of the Chinese company's most innovative products, including the company's latest electric vehicle models, a recreation of a smart home with integrated home automation systems, and a section dedicated to automotive components such as chassis, electric motors, and batteries. Fourth visit to Sánchez On the second day of his official visit, which will take place this Tuesday, Sánchez (who will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares) will be received by the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and the Chinese Premier, Li Qiang, with whom he will preside over the signing of bilateral agreements. He will also hold a press conference. This is Pedro Sánchez's fourth official visit to China in just four years, following those made in March 2023, September 2024, and April 2025. His predecessor, Mariano Rajoy (PP), traveled to China three times: in September 2014, September 2016, and May 2017.

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