Post by : Badri Ariffin

Spain’s King Felipe VI and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Wednesday to sign agreements aimed at boosting language exchanges, trade, and broader cooperation between the two nations. This marks the first official visit by King Felipe to China, signaling Spain’s growing focus on deepening ties with Beijing.

The Spanish royal couple, accompanied by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, were welcomed with a military band performance and a 21-gun salute at the Great Hall of the People, reflecting the ceremonial importance of the state visit.

In their talks, Xi highlighted China’s readiness to work closely with Spain to develop a “comprehensive strategic partnership” amid what he described as a complex global landscape. The agreements cover collaboration in economic issues, language programs, and exporting Spanish aquatic products to China, while both sides discussed expanding trade relations, particularly in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and green technologies.

King Felipe’s visit began in Chengdu, where he joined Spanish business leaders at a Spain-China business forum alongside the country’s foreign and economy ministers. Spain, with a population of 49.4 million, has increasingly positioned itself as one of the EU nations most open to engagement with China. Exports from China to Spain currently outweigh Spanish exports to the Chinese market, creating opportunities for more balanced trade.

The visit builds on previous high-level exchanges, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s third visit to China in April. Over the past few years, Spanish and Chinese companies have signed multiple agreements, such as the joint venture between CATL and Stellantis to build a battery factory in northern Spain, as well as partnerships in green hydrogen infrastructure. Spain’s transition to renewable energy, which already generated over half of its electricity last year, depends in part on access to Chinese raw materials, solar technology, and innovation.

King Felipe is also set to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of China’s top legislative body, as Spain continues its strategic effort to strengthen economic, cultural, and technological ties with the world’s second-largest economy.

#Global News