China
Opportunities in Trade, Investment, and Industry within China-Spain Relations
From September 8-11, 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez visited China, highlighting the importance of Sino-Spanish relations. Despite geopolitical tensions, the visit aimed to strengthen cooperation in trade, tourism, and investment, as both countries seek pragmatic, mutually beneficial ties.
From September 8 to 11, 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez made an official visit to China. This marked Sánchez’s second visit to China since March 2023.
The year 2024 is pivotal for Sino-Spanish relations. In 2023, China and Spain celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Looking ahead, 2025 will mark the 20th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Amidst geopolitical tensions and uncertainties in China-EU trade relations, high-level diplomacy between China and Spain underscores the pragmatic, cooperative, and mutually beneficial nature of China-EU relations.
China and Spain established diplomatic relations in March 1973 and formed a comprehensive strategic partnership in November 2005.
Since Sánchez became Prime Minister of Spain, high-level communication between China and Spain has remained close. In November 2018, President Xi Jinping made a state visit to Spain. In March 2023, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Spain, Sánchez attended the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference as Prime Minister of Spain and made a state visit to China. During his visit, Sánchez expressed his desire to deepen cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations with China. Both sides achieved a series of cooperative outcomes in areas such as trade, tourism, agriculture, culture, and education. In the second half of 2023, Spain, as the rotating presidency of the European Union, actively promoted China-EU exchanges and cooperation.
Spain is China’s fifth-largest trading partner within the EU, while China is Spain’s largest trading partner outside the EU. Additionally, the two countries have extensive and in-depth cooperation in the field of investment.
In recent years, China-EU relations, especially in trade, have experienced fluctuations. In 2023, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and proposed punitive tariffs on them in July. In response, China initiated anti-dumping investigations on EU pork, brandy, and dairy products. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, warned that a trade war between the EU and China might be inevitable.
| This article was first published by China Briefing , which is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and India . Readers may write to info@dezshira.com for more support. |
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