Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for a “fair trade order” during his visit to China, aiming to strengthen economic ties despite current trade disputes between Beijing and the European Union. Meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Sanchez emphasized Spain’s desire to build bridges and promote a trade environment that benefits both economies and their citizens.
Sanchez’s visit also includes a trip to Shanghai, where he plans to meet with local officials and businesses, and inaugurate a new Cervantes Institute cultural center. At a forum in Beijing, Sanchez highlighted the strong relationship between Spain and China and expressed a commitment to dialogue and cooperative solutions on various issues.
The Spanish leader also met with the Spain-China Business Advisory Council to deepen trade and investment relations. He is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping and other top Chinese lawmakers later in the day.
Sanchez’s visit follows a recent political development involving Venezuela, as the Spanish government has granted asylum to opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who fled to Spain claiming to be the legitimate president of Venezuela, a move that may strain relations with China, which has close ties with the Maduro administration.
The visit comes amid heightened trade tensions between the EU and China. The European Commission recently proposed import duties on Chinese electric vehicles, while China has launched investigations into EU subsidies for dairy products and pork imports. Spain, a major exporter of pork to China, is particularly affected by these trade disputes.
