Key Points
- King Felipe VI makes first state visit to China by a Spanish monarch in 18 years
- Spain seeks Chinese investment in green technology, energy transition, and automotive sectors
- China proposes resuming EU investment talks frozen since 2021
- Spain faces EU and US scrutiny over closer economic ties with Beijing
ISLAMABAD: In a move reflecting shifting global alliances, Spain’s King Felipe VI met with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, marking a fresh chapter in China‑Spain relations
While China courts the Spanish King, Madrid is seeking Chinese investment and expanding its economic footprint in the Asia-Pacific.
During talks at the Great Hall of the People, Xi said China values its traditional friendship with Spain and aims to “import more high-quality Spanish products” while deepening cooperation in areas including new energy, digital economy, and artificial intelligence, according to China’s state-run Global Times.
King Felipe VI is the first Spanish monarch to make a state visit to China in 18 years, Reuters reported, underscoring Madrid’s efforts to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties amid broader EU-China tensions.
Spanish officials hope the visit will help draw Chinese capital to projects in green technology, renewable energy, and the automotive sector. Recent initiatives include joint ventures with Chinese battery makers and energy-transition projects in Spain, according to Reuters.
China also indicated a willingness to resume investment talks with the European Union, which have been stalled since 2021, Investing.com reported, suggesting Beijing is seeking broader engagement with EU member states through bilateral channels like Madrid.
However, Spain must navigate carefully, balancing its economic interests with EU trade policies and US concerns over Chinese subsidies and market access. Analysts warn that closer alignment with Beijing could draw scrutiny from Brussels or expose Madrid to geopolitical pressure, added Investing.com.
The visit comes as Spain, a major pork exporter to China worth around $1.2 billion annually, seeks to leverage its logistics, energy, and technology sectors to attract long-term Chinese investment, Arab News reported.
