China has urged Western nations to uphold multilateralism and engage in ‘unity and cooperation’, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Beijing on Friday (together in main image).
The call comes as China looks to strengthen alliances amid an intensifying trade dispute with US President Donald Trump. ALSO READ: EU welcomes Trump’s 90-day pause in tariffs, as stock markets soar.
‘The two sides should promote the building of a fair and reasonable global governance system, maintain world peace and security, and promote common development and prosperity,’ Xi told Sánchez during their talks at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, according to a summary of the meeting released by the state-run Xinhua News Agency.
The Spanish leader’s visit has taken place during a complicated period in Europe-China relations. Recently announced US tariffs — which were subsequently paused — may push the European Union to deepen trade ties with China, the world’s third-largest consumer market after the US and the EU itself.
Although Xi didn’t directly reference Trump or the steep 145% tariffs that the US has imposed on Chinese goods, he did speak of ‘multiple risks and challenges’ globally, which he said can only be addressed through ‘unity and cooperation’.
The trip marked Sánchez’s third visit to China in two years, reflecting his administration’s interest in attracting Chinese investment. He also visited Vietnam earlier in the week. While in China, Sánchez also held discussions with executives from various Chinese firms, many of which operate in electric battery production and renewable energy sectors. ALSO READ: Spain and Vietnam pledge to ‘upgrade bilateral relations’ after tariffs shock.
Following his meeting with Xi, Sánchez expressed Spain’s support for ‘more balanced relations between the European Union and China, of finding negotiated solutions to our differences, which we have, and of greater cooperation in areas of common interest’. He stressed that ‘trade wars are not good, nobody wins. And this is clear, the world needs both China and the United States to talk’.
Earlier in the week, Spanish government spokesperson Pilar Alegría noted that the trip held ‘special importance’, framing it as a chance to ‘diversify markets’ at a time when Spain is facing tariffs from the US. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez heads to China and Vietnam in wake of US tariffs storm.
On Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticised Spain’s outreach to China, warning that countries seeking closer ties with Beijing would be ‘cutting their own throat’, as Chinese companies might attempt to offload products they can no longer sell in the American market.
However, Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas, who travelled with Sánchez and spoke from Vietnam on Wednesday, defended the initiative. ‘Expanding the trade relations that we have with other countries, including a partner as important as China, does not go against anyone,’ he said.
‘Everyone has to defend their own interests,’ he added.
Spain, the fourth-largest economy in the eurozone and among the region’s fastest growing, has maintained a less confrontational approach to China compared to several of its European peers.
Although Madrid initially backed the EU’s tariffs last year on Chinese-made electric vehicles over concerns about unfair competitive advantages, it later abstained during a follow-up vote on the issue.
According to Planas, Spain’s stance contributes to a wider EU effort to navigate the current economic tensions. ‘Spain’s approach to China contributes to the collective effort made by certain countries in the European Union to get out of this situation,’ he said. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez visits China to bolster trade and cultural ties, following tariff row.
While Chinese investment in Spain has been on the rise, the country still trails behind Germany and Italy in terms of trade volume with China.
Spain is a significant pork exporter to China, supplying around 20% of its imports, according to the Spanish pork industry group Interporc.
The country, which last year generated 56% of its electricity from renewables, also relies on Chinese raw materials, solar technology, and green energy components — a dependency shared by other European nations moving away from fossil fuels.
Notably, Chinese battery manufacturer CATL announced in December a €4.1 billion joint project with automaker Stellantis to establish a battery plant in northern Spain. That announcement followed previous agreements with Chinese firms Envision and Hygreen Energy to develop green hydrogen projects within Spain.
Spain, as part of the European Union, was initially subject to a 20% general tariff imposed by Trump. That rate has since been reduced to 10% for most countries — excluding China — for a 90-day period. The EU also continues to face additional US duties of 25% on exports like automobiles, steel, and aluminum. ALSO READ: From motorbikes to beauty products: EU announces first tariffs to hit back at US.
Sánchez’s trips to China and Vietnam had already been scheduled before the US administration revealed its latest tariff measures.
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🔴EN DIRECTO
El presidente del Gobierno, @sanchezcastejon, comparece ante los medios de comunicación para informar de su visita a la República Popular China. https://t.co/jwDJTJDHIL
— La Moncloa (@desdelamoncloa) April 11, 2025
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