President Xi Jinping has called for a deeper China-Spain partnership during King Felipe VI’s state visit to Beijing, the first by a Spanish monarch in 18 years.
China’s President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that Beijing is ready to work with Madrid to forge a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with greater global influence, as he hosted Spain’s King Felipe VI in the Chinese capital.
The meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People, marked the first state visit by a Spanish monarch to China since 2007. Felipe’s trip comes as Madrid seeks to strengthen ties with Asia-Pacific nations and position Spain as a key European Union interlocutor with China.
“The world needs more constructive forces dedicated to peace and development,” Xi said during their meeting, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He said China wanted closer cooperation that would be “more strategically steady, more dynamic, and more influential globally.”
Both leaders later attended a signing ceremony, though no details of the agreements were disclosed.
The visit reflects Madrid’s increasing economic engagement with China, particularly after the European Union imposed tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in June 2024. Spain has since sent Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to Beijing twice, targeting investment in green technology, automotive manufacturing, and other growth sectors.
However, tensions persist. Spain, the EU’s largest pork exporter, sells about $1.2 billion worth of meat products to China annually, or roughly 20% of Chinese imports. It now faces retaliatory Chinese tariffs of up to 62.4%, imposed in response to EU trade actions.
China last week proposed resuming investment talks with the EU, stalled since 2021. The initiative coincides with efforts by Beijing to ease tensions with Western partners as U.S. tariffs continue to weigh on Chinese exports.
King Felipe’s ceremonial role has allowed him to act as a diplomatic bridge.
“The friendship between Spain and China undoubtedly benefits both peoples,” he said, adding that a “relationship of trust” had been forged.
In April, U.S. officials warned that deepening commercial ties with China was akin to “cutting your own throat”, amid broader EU concerns over trade imbalances and Beijing’s alignment with Russia.
In a significant move to strengthen its national security, Armenia has announced plans to allocate 150 billion drams (approximately $400 million) to t...
Russian forces launched what Ukrainian officials described as the most intense wave of missile attacks so far this year on Ukraine’s two largest cit...
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is departing for China (13 January) for the first time since 2017, after years of strained diplomatic relations ...
Astronomers have observed a white dwarf - a highly compact Earth-sized stellar ember - that is creating a colourful shockwave as it moves through spac...
The U.S. will invest $115 million in counter-drone measures to bolster security around the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th Anniversary celebratio...
In a significant move to strengthen its national security, Armenia has announced plans to allocate 150 billion drams (approximately $400 million) to the development of its defence industry for the 2026–2028 period.
Russian forces launched what Ukrainian officials described as the most intense wave of missile attacks so far this year on Ukraine’s two largest cities early on Tuesday, killing at least four people in the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Astronomers have observed a white dwarf - a highly compact Earth-sized stellar ember - that is creating a colourful shockwave as it moves through space, leaving them searching for an explanation.
The U.S. will invest $115 million in counter-drone measures to bolster security around the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations, the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, the latest sign of governments stepping up drone defences.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy on Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme, beating strong competition in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Iranian authorities have taken steps to disrupt access to Starlink satellite internet, according to users and digital-rights groups, in what appears to be the latest effort to tighten control over people’s access to the internet inside the country.
In a significant move to strengthen its national security, Armenia has announced plans to allocate 150 billion drams (approximately $400 million) to the development of its defence industry for the 2026–2028 period.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is departing for China (13 January) for the first time since 2017, after years of strained diplomatic relations between the two countries that began in the late 2010s with disputes over trade, national security and human rights significantly weakened their ties.
The U.S. will invest $115 million in counter-drone measures to bolster security around the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations, the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, the latest sign of governments stepping up drone defences.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 13th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Japan and South Korea have held high-level talks aimed at strengthening security cooperation and deepening economic ties, against a backdrop of rising tensions in East Asia.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment