Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
China and Spain have pledged to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, as King Felipe VI paid a state visit to Beijing this week, the first by a Spanish monarch in nearly two decades. The visit marks a symbolic renewal of diplomatic ties at a time of shifting global dynamics and growing cooperation between China and Europe.
Meeting at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed the Spanish king and expressed Beijing’s readiness to work with Madrid to build what he called a “comprehensive strategic partnership with greater determination, dynamism and global influence.”
The two heads of state witnessed the signing of ten cooperation agreements in areas including trade, technology, and education, underscoring a shared interest in expanding bilateral collaboration beyond traditional sectors.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of our comprehensive strategic partnership,” Xi said, hailing the Spanish royal family’s “remarkable contributions” to deepening relations. He noted that China and Spain, despite differing histories and political systems, had long “respected and supported each other” and offered “a model of amicable ties and common development.”
King Felipe VI, on his first state visit to China since ascending to the throne, echoed Xi’s emphasis on partnership and mutual respect. “Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Spain and China have consistently trusted and respected each other and worked together for joint development and prosperity,” the king said, praising China’s “globally recognized achievements” in poverty reduction and green development.
The Spanish monarch reaffirmed his country’s adherence to the one-China policy and voiced support for China’s territorial integrity, a position that Beijing has long viewed as a cornerstone of diplomatic relations.
Expanding Economic Cooperation
Xi underscored China’s commitment to importing more high-quality products from Spain and encouraged deeper collaboration in emerging sectors such as renewable energy, digital technology, and artificial intelligence. He also invited Spanish firms to take part in third-party projects in regions like Latin America, where both nations have strong economic and cultural ties.
“China values Spain’s traditional friendship and its unique role in international and regional affairs,” Xi said, calling for “strategic guidance” to ensure that bilateral relations “advance along the right path.”
China also announced an extension of its visa-free policy for Spanish visitors, a move welcomed by King Felipe VI, who highlighted the potential for increased tourism, cultural, and educational exchanges between the two nations. “Investment by Chinese enterprises has strongly boosted Spain’s economic growth and green transition,” the king said, noting that Spain seeks to seize “important opportunities” created by China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan.
Felix Valdivieso, chairman of IE University’s China Observatory in Madrid, said the visit marked a turning point in Spain’s long-term strategy toward China. “Spain is shifting toward a more stable and strategically visionary policy on the world’s second-largest economy,” he said, “which will benefit Spanish businesses and enhance the country’s competitiveness and innovative capacity.”
Shared Commitment to Multilateralism
Both leaders used the meeting to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism at a time of heightened global uncertainty. Xi said China was prepared to work with Spain to support the United Nations’ central role in global governance and to safeguard the international trade order.
“The world today is in a period of turbulence and transformation,” Xi said. “Peace and development remain arduous tasks. Building a community with a shared future for humanity requires that countries rise above differences in ideology and system, and work together for a better life for all.”
King Felipe VI agreed that China and Spain share “highly similar philosophies” on international affairs, emphasizing that both nations favor dialogue over confrontation. “History can only move forward and does not allow for going backward,” the king said, voicing Spain’s appreciation for China’s global development and security initiatives and its advocacy for resolving disputes through diplomacy.
The visit, coming after three separate trips to China by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in as many years, reflects what observers see as a steady warming of ties between Beijing and Madrid. It also highlights Spain’s growing role as a European interlocutor with China amid wider geopolitical tensions, particularly as the European Union seeks to balance engagement with Beijing against concerns over trade, security, and human rights.
As the two countries celebrate fifty years of diplomatic relations and two decades of their strategic partnership, both sides appear intent on reaffirming a pragmatic and forward-looking approach one that blends economic opportunity with a shared interest in stability, global cooperation, and sustainable development.
