Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently visited China, becoming the first foreign leader to meet President Xi Jinping since US President Donald Trump dramatically intensified his ‘tariff war’ against the global economy and against China in particular.
Among current Western European leaders Sánchez stands out as being particularly friendly to China and has visited the country three times in the last two years.
Reporting his most recent visit, an article published by the financial news service Bloomberg clearly outlined how the Spanish leader has defied and stood up to US pressure and bullying:
“Earlier this week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned the EU against seeking to pivot toward China and away from the US, singling out Sánchez’s push to deepen ties with Beijing. ‘That would be cutting your own throat,’ he said.”
Sánchez, for his part, called the US levies “unjustified, unjust and harmful for everybody.” Speaking at a press conference following his meeting with Xi, he announced that Spain’s head of state, King Felipe VI, will make a state visit to China this year.
Meeting Sánchez on April 11, Xi Jinping pointed out that transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the world with multiple risks and challenges piling up. Only through solidarity and coordination can countries maintain world peace and stability and promote global development and prosperity. As the international situation gets more complex and volatile, it is increasingly important for China and Spain to develop sound and stable relations. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain. China stands ready to work with Spain to build a more strategically resilient and dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership, to better serve the well-being of both peoples, inject impetus into the China-EU relations, and make greater contributions to world peace, stability, and development.
He stressed that the China-Spain friendship is a wise choice made by the two peoples based on traditional friendship, practical needs, and long-term interests. Both sides should continue to consolidate the political foundation of mutual support, trust and respect each other, and support each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns. China is ready to work with Spain to leverage their mutually beneficial and complementary cooperation advantages, make good use of the economic and technological cooperation mechanisms, tap the potential in areas like new energy, high-tech manufacturing and smart cities, and produce more outcomes of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China always sees in the European Union an important pole in a multipolar world. China is a major country that explicitly supports the unity, development, and growth of the EU. In the current context, it is of great practical significance to strengthen the China-EU partnerships of peace, growth, reform, and civilisation. China and the EU should see each other as partners and embrace open cooperation. There are no winners in tariff wars. Going against the world will only lead to self-isolation. China’s development over the past seven decades is a result of self-reliance and hard work, not favours from others. China does not flinch from any unjust suppression. No matter how the external environment changes, China will remain confident, stay composed, and concentrate on managing its own affairs well.
Sánchez said that over the past 20 years since China and Spain established a comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries have always respected each other and engaged in friendly cooperation. The relationship has been steadily deepening and growing. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has achieved remarkable accomplishments in its development and made significant contributions to global prosperity and stability. Spain values its relationship with China and firmly upholds the one-China policy. There are no winners in trade wars. In the face of a complex and challenging global environment, Spain and the EU would like to enhance communication and coordination with China to safeguard international trade order, jointly meet challenges like climate change and poverty alleviation, and preserve the common interests of the international community.
Prior to his China visit, Sánchez had visited Vietnam, the first visit by a Spanish head of government since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1977.
The Spanish Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is one of Spain’s top priority partners in Southeast Asia and agreed on the need to elevate the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The following article was originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
On the morning of April 11, 2025, President Xi Jinping met with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
Xi Jinping pointed out that transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the world with multiple risks and challenges piling up. Only through solidarity and coordination can countries maintain world peace and stability, and promote global development and prosperity. As the international situation gets more complex and volatile, it is increasingly important for China and Spain to develop sound and stable relations. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain. China stands ready to work with Spain to build a more strategically resilient and dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership, to better serve the well-being of both peoples, inject impetus into the China-EU relations, and make greater contributions to world peace, stability, and development.
Xi Jinping quoted the Chinese proverb “Range far your eye over long vistas.” He stressed that the China-Spain friendship is a wise choice made by the two peoples based on traditional friendship, practical needs, and long-term interests. Both sides should continue to consolidate the political foundation of mutual support, trust and respect each other, and support each other on issues concerning core interests and major concerns, especially in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. China’s consumption upgrade for 1.4 billion people and industrial transformation potential will provide strong momentum for the world economy. China is ready to work with Spain to leverage their mutually beneficial and complementary cooperation advantages, make good use of the economic and technological cooperation mechanisms, tap the potential in areas like new energy, high-tech manufacturing and smart cities, and produce more outcomes of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Both sides should uphold the traditional friendship of mutual understanding and affinity, carry forward the deep bond between the two peoples fostered through the Olympics and panda cooperation, create new signature programs such as the “Happy Chinese New Year” event, expand student exchanges to engage more young people in carrying forward the China-Spain friendship. Both China and Spain are positive supporters of multilateralism and open cooperation. It is important for the two sides to work together to build a just and equitable global governance system, safeguard world peace and security, and promote common development and prosperity.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China always sees in the European Union an important pole in a multipolar world. China is a major country that explicitly supports the unity, development, and growth of the EU. In the current context, it is of great practical significance to strengthen the China-EU partnerships of peace, growth, reform, and civilization. China and the EU should see each other as partners and embrace open cooperation. China would like to celebrate with the EU the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, build on past achievements, and move the relationship toward strategic stability and mutual success, so as to better benefit the peoples of both sides and the international community at large.
There are no winners in tariff wars. Going against the world will only lead to self-isolation. China’s development over the past seven decades is a result of self-reliance and hard work, not favors from others. China does not flinch from any unjust suppression. No matter how the external environment changes, China will remain confident, stay composed, and concentrate on managing its own affairs well. Both China and the EU are major economies in the world and staunch supporters of economic globalization and free trade. With a combined economic output exceeding one-third of the global total, the two sides have already formed a strong economic symbiotic relationship. China and the EU should step up to their international responsibilities, jointly safeguard economic globalization and the international trade environment, and jointly reject unilateral and bullying actions. China and the EU should defend not only their own legitimate rights and interests but also international fairness and justice and international rules and order.
Sánchez said that over the past 20 years since China and Spain established a comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries have always respected each other and engaged in friendly cooperation. The relationship has been steadily deepening and growing. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has achieved remarkable accomplishments in its development and made significant contributions to global prosperity and stability. Spain values its relationship with China, and firmly upholds the one-China policy. The Spanish side stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with China, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, scientific and technological innovation, green energy and other sectors, and strengthen exchanges in education, culture, and tourism to elevate bilateral relations to new heights. China is an important cooperation partner of the EU. Spain has always supported the stable development of EU-China relations. The EU is committed to open and free trade, upholds multilateralism, and opposes unilateral tariff impositions. There are no winners in trade wars. In the face of a complex and challenging global environment, Spain and the EU would like to enhance communication and coordination with China to safeguard international trade order, jointly meet challenges like climate change and poverty alleviation, and preserve the common interests of the international community.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
Wang Yi was present at the meeting.
