King Felipe Vi To Visit China – First Spanish Royal Trip In 18 Years

For nan first clip successful almost 2 decades, a Spanish monarch is heading to China. King Felipe VI will make a authorities sojourn to Beijing from November 10 to 13, a move that highlights Spain’s increasing liking successful strengthening waste and acquisition and finance links pinch nan world’s second-largest economy.

A royal sojourn to boost Spain–China cooperation

China’s overseas ministry confirmed nan sojourn connected Monday, November 3, saying that Beijing is fresh to “join hands pinch Spain” to grow practice and deepen their strategical partnership. Spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters nan travel offers an opportunity for some nations to “work together and move forward.”

The royal sojourn comes arsenic Madrid steps up its economical diplomacy pinch China, moreover arsenic nan European Union and nan United States tread much cautiously. Spain has been 1 of nan astir proactive European countries successful seeking person economical ties pinch Beijing.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has already visited China 3 times successful arsenic galore years. During his past trip, successful September 2024, he took a astonishing move – backing distant from nan EU’s connection to use tariffs connected Chinese-made electrical vehicles, a move wide seen arsenic an effort to support soft relations pinch Beijing.

Chinese investments turn successful Spain

Beijing’s power successful Spain is already taking style done awesome investments. Chinese artillery elephantine CATL and renewable power institution Envision person announced plans to unfastened caller factories successful Spain, helping boost nan country’s greenish power and manufacturing sectors.

But not everyone successful Europe shares Madrid’s enthusiasm. Brussels has warned against relying excessively heavy connected Chinese trade, pointing to long-standing concerns complete economical imbalances, China’s business pinch Russia, and its power complete captious earthy materials utilized successful Europe’s power and exertion industries.

Analysts opportunity China’s “divide and conquer” strategy – offering waste and acquisition incentives to definite EU countries for illustration Spain aliases Hungary – is making it harder for nan bloc to support a unified position toward Beijing.

Caught betwixt Brussels, Beijing and Washington

Spain’s attack hasn’t gone unnoticed crossed nan Atlantic either. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent precocious slammed Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo for suggesting Europe should move person to China, informing that doing truthful would beryllium “cutting your ain throat.”

Still, world tensions whitethorn beryllium cooling – astatine slightest for now. After Chinese President Xi Jinping met U.S. President Donald Trump successful South Korea past week, some sides agreed to a one-year partial rollback of waste and acquisition and tech restrictions, easing months of clash betwixt nan 2 powers.

Against this backdrop, King Felipe’s sojourn to Beijing will beryllium intimately watched crossed Europe and Washington, arsenic Spain walks a good statement betwixt strengthening its ain economical interests and staying aligned pinch EU and U.S. partners.

Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for nan latest news astir Spain