On the afternoon of September 9, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is on an official visit to China, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
Xi Jinping asked Pedro Sánchez to convey his regards to King Felipe VI. Recalling that China and Spain celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year, Xi Jinping noted that both sides have maintained close exchanges and interactions at all levels and promoted high-quality cooperation in new areas. Noting that next year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi Jinping said the two sides should adhere to the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations based on mutual respect and equal treatment, take a holistic and long-term view, and continuously enrich the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Xi Jinping also called on both sides to build long-term and stable China-Spain relations with strategic resolve and elevate bilateral relations to a higher level.
Xi Jinping stressed that reform and opening up is the right development path that China has found through long-term practice, and it will be followed steadfastly. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee laid out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, which will bring new opportunities for deepening and expanding cooperation between China and Spain. The two sides should give full play to platforms such as the Mixed Committee on Economy and Trade and the Joint Commission on Science and Technology to jointly promote development in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, digital economy and new energy to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. Xi Jinping expressed the hope that Spain will continue to provide a fair, equitable, safe and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country. He urged joint efforts from the two sides to stay committed to inclusiveness and mutual learning, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges in the fields of language education, youth, culture and tourism, and promote friendship between the two peoples. China appreciates Spain's active promotion of China-EU exchanges and cooperation during its EU rotating presidency in the second half of last year. As next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, China is ready to work with the EU to take stock of successful experience in the development of bilateral relations and push for steady progress in the development of China-EU relations in the direction of independence, helping each other succeed and benefits to the world. Xi Jinping expressed the hope that Spain will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Xi Jinping pointed out that in today's changing and turbulent world, China and Spain are both countries with a sense of responsibility and mission, and both advocate multilateralism and free trade. China is ready to expand cooperation with Spain in third-party markets in the Global South and strengthen communication and coordination in the United Nations, the G20 and other international organizations, so as to inject more positive energy into world peace, stability and human progress.
Pedro Sánchez conveyed cordial greetings from King Felipe VI to President Xi Jinping. He said that he is glad to visit China again after one year, which shows the closeness of Spain-China relations. Spain and China enjoy time-honored friendship, and have constantly developed and deepened the partnership on the basis of mutual respect. Pedro Sánchez said that during his visit, the two sides signed a number of cooperation agreements in green development and other fields, demonstrating the huge potential and bright prospects of bilateral cooperation. He expressed the hope that the two sides will strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade and new energy vehicles. Spain is willing to provide a sound environment for Chinese enterprises. Both Spain and China are committed to safeguarding world peace and multilateralism. The world today faces multiple challenges such as turbulence, conflicts, poverty and climate change, which call for greater international cooperation and joint response. China is a key force in safeguarding world peace and development and plays an important, constructive role in resolving major international and regional issues. The Spanish side views its relations with China from a strategic height, firmly pursues the one-China policy, is willing to be a trustworthy partner of China, and looks forward to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Spain and China and making greater contributions to the well-being of the two peoples, world peace and prosperity. Spain supports the principles of free trade and open markets, disagrees with trade wars, and is willing to continue playing a positive role in promoting the sound development of EU-China relations.
The two sides also had an exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and other issues.
Wang Yi was present at the meeting.
