Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Beijing on Friday, signaling a renewed push for strengthening bilateral trade ties as global markets face rising uncertainty, according to AFP via TASR.
The visit comes amid the European Union’s reassessment of its global trade policies, spurred in part by U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating tariff threats, which have rattled international trade dynamics.
Spain, which imports approximately €45 billion worth of goods from China annually but exports only €7.4 billion in return, sees the meeting as an opportunity to rebalance trade relations. This marks Sánchez’s third official visit to China in the last two years, underlining his strategic focus on the region.
During his last visit in September 2024, Sánchez diverged from the broader EU stance by calling for a more “fair and balanced trade system” instead of pushing for punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The EU has argued that such tariffs are needed to protect European industries from state-subsidized Chinese competitors.
As part of his visit, Sánchez is also scheduled to hold meetings with leaders of renewable energy and electric battery firms, aiming to foster technological and environmental cooperation. His tour follows a stop in Vietnam, where he signed a joint declaration to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Accompanying Sánchez was Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas, who emphasized Madrid’s intent to deepen trade partnerships with China in ways that benefit Spanish citizens and the broader EU.
Meanwhile, China announced President Xi will visit Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia next week to bolster regional alliances, particularly amid rising trade tensions with the U.S.
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