They enter the grand hall together, presided over by flags of Spain and China. Xi Jinping gestures to Pedro Sánchez where to sit at the table. One delegation facing the other in the presidential palace. Third meeting in just two years between the two leaders. The Spanish president is the first to visit Beijing since the trade escalation between the US and China. The Chinese president has thanked his Spanish counterpart for his interest and efforts to deepen relations between both countries and with the EU. "I am very pleased to meet with you," were Xi's first words at the start of the meeting. "This is your third visit in three years. It is a demonstration of your firm willingness to deepen our bilateral relations."
If Spain wants to have China as a privileged partner, the Asian giant also sees our country as a preferred ally within the EU. Xi has expressed this face to face to Sánchez: "The more turbulent and changing the international situation is, the more important it will be to maintain a good and stable development of Sino-Spanish relations."
Without explicit mention of tariffs, Xi, with this reflection on turbulence and changing situations, is the first time he refers to the trade war driven by Trump.
Sánchez has visited Beijing in 2023, 2024, and 2025. This current visit began to be prepared last year, but it has gained importance and relevance due to the tariff war driven by Donald Trump, which has led to a trade escalation between the US and China. Hence, Sánchez wants to emphasize in these meetings the need to diversify relations with the Asian giant, not at the expense of the US, but to reduce dependence on this country. Looking towards Asia as a trading partner, where China is "a major player."
In fact, with the purpose of deepening commercial relations, seeking to rebalance a trade balance clearly in favor of the Asian country (it exports more than it imports), the Spanish Prime Minister has delivered a message on his own behalf, but also on behalf of the EU, with whom he has coordinated and worked on this visit: "Spain is a deeply European country that sees China as a partner of the EU. Spain will always work to promote solid and balanced relations between China and the EU, where dialogue, reciprocity, and harmony prevail." A message that gains relevance in the midst of a trade war with the US.
Both Xi and Sánchez have shown their willingness to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union and China. The Chinese president picks up on this and is willing to "promote Sino-European relations and make a greater contribution to the promotion of peace, stability, and development in the world." It is worth noting that China plays an important role in the Ukraine war following Russia's invasion. In fact, during his 2023 visit, Sánchez already asked Xi to mediate in the conflict. China is a country close to Russia.
During this trip, Sánchez, in an informal conversation with accompanying journalists, has expressed his conviction that Spain can play a role in building more balanced alliances between the EU and China.