China is willing to work with Spain to build a more strategically resilient and dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership with greater international influence, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Xi made the remarks when meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing. It marks King Felipe VI ‘s first state visit to the country after his enthronement, and the first visit by a Spanish monarch to China in 18 years.
The two countries have respected and supported each other, and helped each other succeed, setting a model of friendly coexistence and common development among countries with different historical and cultural backgrounds and social systems, Xi said.
Hailing the outstanding contributions made by the Spanish royal family to the development of China-Spain relations, Xi said that on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership, King Felipe VI ‘s state visit to China holds great significance in driving the continuous advancement of friendly cooperation between the two countries.
King Felipe VI said that it is a great pleasure to pay a state visit to China at the 20th anniversary of the Spain-China comprehensive strategic partnership, and that Spain and China enjoy longstanding friendly exchanges. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have consistently trusted and respected each other and worked together for joint development and prosperity, he said.
Ahead of the meeting, President Xi held a welcome ceremony for King Felipe VI.
Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times that as head of state, the King of Spain transcends the level of government, embodying the nation and its people as a whole. Framing the bilateral relationship in terms of strategic and long-term perspective at the highest level highlights a robust foundation for the future of China-Spain ties, he added.
In 2025, Spain completed a “grand slam” of high-level visits to China: after the prime minister and foreign minister, the head of state has now arrived, said Jin Ling, director and senior research fellow of the Department for Global Governance and International Organizations at the China Institute of International Studies.
Against the backdrop of great-power games and the EU’s “de-risking” approach toward China, Spain’s steadfast adherence to an independent and cooperative China policy underscores the deep strategic mutual trust between the two countries, Jin noted.
The meeting between the two heads of state “highlights the friendship and the trust-based relationship between Spain and China,” Spanish news agency Agencia EFE commented on Wednesday.
Pragmatic cooperation
During the meeting, while calling on both sides to further advance pragmatic cooperation, Xi said China is willing to import more high-quality Spanish products, and tap the potential of cooperation in emerging fields such as new energy, digital economy and artificial intelligence, according to Xinhua.
He also said that the two countries should expand two-way investment, create more landmark projects, leverage their complementary strengths and jointly explore third-party markets such as Latin America.
China and Spain should strengthen exchanges in the fields of culture and education and support each other in successfully running their respective cultural and language institutions in each other’s countries, Xi said, adding that China will continue its visa-free policy for Spain to further facilitate people-to-people exchanges.
The two heads of state witnessed the signing of 10 cooperation documents in areas such as the economy, technology and education after their meeting, according to Xinhua.
Before his itinerary in Beijing, King Felipe VI attended an economic and trade themed forum in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Tuesday, accompanied by Spanish Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Carlos Cuerpo, El Mundo of Spain reported.
King Felipe VI said China has accomplished globally recognized and admirable achievements in its development, adding that its successful experiences, especially in poverty alleviation and green and low-carbon development, offer great inspiration.
King Felipe VI said investment by Chinese enterprises has strongly boosted Spain’s economic growth and green transition. Spain is willing to maintain close exchanges with China, in order to seize the important opportunities presented by China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and deepen cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, industry, science and technology, and green energy.
In recent years, China-Spain relations have emerged as a standout example within the broader China-EU framework, owing much to the strong economic and trade foundations both sides have cultivated, Cui noted.
China and Spain have sustained their complementary strengths in sectors like agricultural trade and new energy, while simultaneously venturing into new frontiers such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence, thereby elevating this model of mutually beneficial cooperation to a higher level, the expert said.
On October 9, the Ministry of Commerce of China and Spain’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise co-hosted the China-Spain Trade and Investment Matchmaking Event in Madrid, with deals worth about $300 million signed covering sectors including agri-food, new-energy vehicles, batteries, machinery, cross-border e-commerce, finance and tourism, according to Xinhua.
In addition, the implementation of several Chinese investment projects in Spain has also been confirmed, including a CATL battery factory and an Envision Energy renewable energy project.
As some EU countries increasingly “politicize” cooperation with China and make it a security issue, the strides made in China-Spain cooperation on green and digital fronts hold exemplary significance, Jin said. “By delivering tangible mutual benefits, the win-win outcomes between Beijing and Madrid can serve as a catalyst for driving more progress across Europe, Jin said.
“The pragmatic cooperation between China and Spain effectively counters prevailing skepticism in parts of some European public opinion toward cooperation with China. It also proves that China and European nations have the wisdom and vision to transform seemingly competitive elements into fertile ground for collaboration,” Cui said.
Strategic resilience
During the meeting with King Felipe VI, President Xi noted that China cherishes its traditional friendship with Spain and values Spain’s unique role in international and regional affairs, according to Xinhua.
He said both sides should further consolidate mutual support, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic guidance and ensure that bilateral relations always stay on the right track.
He added that China and Spain have played a vital role in promoting global openness and cooperation, as well as upholding international fairness and justice, Xinhua reported.
The Spanish government is firmly committed to the one-China policy, supports China in safeguarding its territorial integrity, and stands ready to work with China to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership to bring more benefits to the two peoples and contribute even more to global peace and stability, the king said.
The meeting between the heads of state has delivered positive results, illustrating China’s approach to advancing ties with Spain and Europe from a strategic and long-term perspective, Cui said. “That means when confronting current issues, China and EU countries should grasp the larger trajectory and keep gaze fixed on the future, rather than disrupted by temporary difficulties and differences,” he noted.
The advancement of China-Spain relations could serve as a reminder for Europe that China-EU ties need not evolve toward confrontation or rivalry, as long as Europe maintains strategic autonomy and assesses China’s development with fairness and objectivity, Cui said.
During China visit by Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez in April, the two countries released the Action Plan for Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Spain (2025-2028), according to Xinhua.
In May, the Spanish government released its 2025-2028 Foreign Action Strategy, which explicitly emphasizes deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership with China.
Amid Europe’s security dilemma and mounting pressure from US tariff policies, China-Spain coordination injects vital stability and predictability into the geopolitical landscape, Jin said.