Spain's Sanchez begins China visit

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez begins a three-day visit to China on Monday, aiming to strengthen trade ties with the world's second-largest economy. The trip marks Sanchez's fourth visit to China in four years as he seeks to position Spain as a key bridge between China and the 27-member European Union. The visit comes amid tense relations with Washington under US President Donald Trump, whose tariffs and unpredictable foreign policy have raised concerns among European allies. Leaders from Britain, Canada and Germany have recently visited Beijing, and Trump is expected to travel there in May. Trump threatened last month to cut trade with Spain after the country denied the use of its military bases for US strikes against Iran. Spanish government sources said a primary goal of the trip is to secure greater market access, particularly for agricultural and industrial goods, and to explore joint ventures in the technology sector. Sanchez is set to meet top Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, on Tuesday and hold a press conference. Madrid said that Spain's exports to China rose 6.8 percent in 2025, crediting the growth to strong ties with Beijing. During Sanchez's visit to China in April 2025, Beijing agreed to expand access for a range of Spanish products, including pork and cherries. "Diplomatic relations between the two countries are not improvised. They are the result of many years of work," Jordi Bacaria, expert in international relations and professor emeritus at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, told Xinhua in an interview. Bacaria identified trade and investment as priorities for the visit. Beyond trade, he highlighted Spain's opportunity to secure access to Chinese technology for its renewable energy transition, including solar panels, semiconductors and components for electrification. (AFP/Xinhua) Edited by Raymond Yeung