On April 11, 2025, the meeting held in Beijing between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stood out as a critical contact that both commemorated and aimed to redefine the 20-year history of strategic partnership between the two countries. The meeting took place shortly after the United States (US) implemented tariff decisions against China and European countries. This timing made the encounter not only important in a bilateral sense but also strategic in terms of the future of the multilateral global economic system.
The themes emphasized in Li Qiang’s speech—“openness, mutual benefit, and pragmatism”—also clearly stood out in China’s relationship with Spain. China aims not only to increase trade volume with Spain but also to establish long-term cooperation in strategic areas such as green development, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and high technology.[1]This reflects a goal of transforming economic relations with Spain from a traditional import-export framework into a more comprehensive and in-depth model of cooperation. On the other hand, China’s efforts to diversify its direct investments in Spain to contribute to local employment offer significant opportunities for the Spanish labor market. This illustrates China’s approach to shaping its investments in Europe not only based on economic interests but also with a sense of social responsibility. In this way, China aims to establish a stronger economic presence in Spain while also addressing political doubts in Europe.
The key messages in Sanchez’s speeches provided important insights not only into Spain-China relations but also into the future of European Union (EU)-China ties. Stating that existing differences with China should be resolved through dialogue, Sanchez advocated for a negotiation-based approach that prioritizes mutual benefits, rather than positioning Europe directly against China.[2] This suggests that Europe needs to adopt a more constructive and pragmatic policy in its relations with China.
Moreover, Sanchez’s direct criticism of the US tariffs as unfair revealed Spain’s—and consequently Europe’s—desire to defend its economic interests independently of transatlantic pressures. The EU’s stance toward China in global trade reflects not only its position vis-à-vis the US but also a broader search for a new balance in its relations with China. In this context, Sanchez’s approach toward China demonstrates the EU’s intent to occupy a more autonomous and assertive position as a global actor.
During his visit to China, Sanchez signed seven new agreements regarding Spain’s exports of agricultural, cosmetic, and health products, making the visit a significant event not only on a political level but also economically.[3] These agreements aligned with Li Qiang’s remarks that China is open to importing more goods from Spain. In particular, the agreements in high value-added sectors demonstrated that Spain is taking concrete steps to strengthen and diversify its economic relations with China. Sanchez’s meetings with Chinese investors and his announcement that Spain is open to cooperation in strategic sectors such as automotive, batteries, and renewable energy clearly revealed Spain’s ambition to become a reliable investment partner for China in these fields.[4]
The anti-unilateralism and anti-protectionism stance of both leaders illustrated that China and Spain share a similar perspective on global economic and political dynamics. While China advocates for the preservation of the multilateral trading system centered around the World Trade Organization (WTO), Spain reiterated its commitment to the United Nations (UN)-based multilateral order and international law.[5] In this regard, the two countries, acting as complementary partners, are developing a cooperation model grounded in the legitimacy of the international system. This reflects an aspiration to build a more stable and predictable partnership not only based on economic interests but also in response to geopolitical uncertainties and global crises.
This stance demonstrates that both China and Spain are not only defending their national interests but also the functioning and order of the global system. Their development of a shared position against US economic pressures reveals a joint search for a more independent global economic order. In this respect, the relationship between China and Spain is evolving beyond trade into a broader geopolitical and economic vision. As global supply chains are being reshaped and new power balances emerge in strategic areas such as energy security and digitalization, both countries are advocating for a multilateral approach and laying a solid foundation for global cooperation.
This visit, which not only assessed past relations but also aimed to build a multilateral vision for the future of China-Europe relations, stands out as a development that warrants close attention on the international stage. Especially at a time when global trade is being redefined, energy security is taking center stage, and digitalization is accelerating, the comprehensive and multilayered partnership message delivered by China and Spain is of great significance in the current shifting global power balance. The partnership between China and Spain reflects not only an economic link but also a strategic bond, underscoring the importance of defending multilateralism in the global system.
In conclusion, the Li Qiang–Pedro Sanchez meeting on April 11, 2025, not only commemorated the past of the China-Spain strategic partnership but also shaped a forward-looking, multilayered vision for cooperation. In a period marked by global uncertainties, US economic pressures, and shifting trade dynamics, the emphasis on multilateralism and mutual interests by both countries is noteworthy. The expansion of economic relations into strategic areas such as technology, investment, and sustainability renders the partnership deeper and more enduring, while the messages regarding EU-China relations reflect Europe’s aspiration to establish a more balanced and independent relationship with China. This visit constitutes a significant turning point for the future of China-Europe relations.
[1] “Chinese premier holds talks with Spanish prime minister”, Xinhua, https://english.news.cn/20250411/f15a93d4366a4421bab8ebf3acc9174c/c.html, (Date Accession: 14.04.2025).
[2] “Chinese Premier Li holds talks with Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez”, Insight EU Monitoring, https://ieu-monitoring.com/editorial/chinese-premier-holds-talks-with-spanish-prime-minister/608109?utm_source=ieu-portal/feed, (Date Accession: 14.04.2025).
[3] “Spain seeks to strengthen bilateral ties with China”, China Daily, https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202504/14/WS67fc65eba3104d9fd381f116.html, (Date Accession:14.04.2025).
[4] Ibid.
[5] “Chinese premier holds talks with Spanish prime minister”, The State Council The People’s Republic of China, https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202504/11/content_WS67f9183ec6d0868f4e8f19b0.html, (Date Accession: 14.04.2025).
