Spain deepens China ties as Sánchez visits for fourth time in four years

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is on a five-day visit to China, his fourth trip in four years, highlighting Spain’s push to strengthen economic and strategic relations with the world’s second-largest economy.

Spain has been one of Europe’s most vocal supporters of expanding trade ties with China, often framing the country as a strategic economic partner rather than a geopolitical rival. This contrasts with the more confrontational stance associated with Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Sánchez’s repeated visits to China reflect a deliberate strategy by Madrid to maintain strong engagement with Beijing, even as many Western nations adopt a more cautious approach.

The policy has gained domestic political support but has also raised concerns among businesses and opposition figures, who warn that growing friction with the U.S. could carry economic risks for Spain.

• U.S. may stop trade with Spain over refusal to use military bases

Trade and investment ties 

Trade between Spain and China has grown significantly, with bilateral volumes exceeding 50 billion dollars. Chinese investment in Spain has also accelerated, reaching 643 million euros in 2025, compared with 149 million the previous year.

Overall Chinese investment in Spain now totals around 9.7 billion euros between 2010 and 2025, concentrated mainly in energy and extractive industries.

Madrid is seeking to reduce its widening trade deficit with China, which has more than doubled over the past four years to nearly 50 billion dollars in 2025.

Spanish officials hope to boost exports, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing, to help rebalance trade flows.

High-level engagements during the visit

On the first day, the Spanish leader visited the headquarters of Xiaomi, attended a business forum with Spanish and Chinese firms in energy, infrastructure, biosciences and technology, and delivered a speech at Tsinghua University.

Sánchez is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, with discussions likely to focus on geopolitics and broader bilateral relations.

Foreign policy positioning 

Sánchez has also used the visit to call for a stronger Chinese role in global governance, urging Beijing to engage more actively on issues such as climate change, security and inequality, while advocating for a more balanced international order.

The trip underscores continued high-level exchanges between Spain and China and reflects Madrid’s effort to pursue an independent foreign policy, balancing transatlantic ties with deeper engagement in Asia.

China’s official news agency Xinhua News Agency said on Monday that Sánchez’s visit was set to further consolidate bilateral ties and pointed to a broader pathway for steady engagement between China and Europe at a time of growing global uncertainty.

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