What to know as Sanchez makes fourth China visit in just four years

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is paying an official visit to China from April 11 to 15, his fourth visit to the country in four years.

Following the visits by Spanish King Felipe VI and Sanchez himself last year, it represents another significant high-level exchange between China and Spain in a short period.

China is willing to work with Spain to take the prime minister's visit as an opportunity to further deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance communication and cooperation, and strengthen multilateral coordination, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said.

Robust vitality of ties

Sanchez previously visited China in April 2025, September 2024 and March 2023. The Spanish king paid a state visit to China last November, marking a rare dual visit by the Spanish head of state and head of government in the same year that coincided with the 20th anniversary of the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership.

Four visits in four years by the Spanish prime minister vividly showcase the robust vitality of ties between the two nations, wrote Chinese Ambassador to Spain Yao Jing on Friday.

Cui Hongjian, director of the Center for European Union and Regional Development Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told media that Sanchez's such frequent visits reflect high consistency and stability in Spain's China policy, and the strategic intent of both sides to institutionalize and sustain high-level interactions.

In recent years, China-Spain relations have developed at a high level under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, with solid progress made in cooperation across various fields.

Economic and trade cooperation serves as the cornerstone. According to Yao, bilateral trade in goods in 2025 exceeded $55 billion, a year-on-year increase of 9.8%, cementing China's position as Spain's largest trading partner outside the European Union.

Spanish premium food products, including olive oil, wine and pork, have gained wide popularity among Chinese consumers. Meanwhile, China's mechanical and electrical equipment and new energy products are playing a role in Spain's green transition drive.

CATL, a major Chinese battery manufacturer, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a battery plant jointly built with Stellantis in Spain last November. Meanwhile, Chinese automaker Chery has formed a joint venture with a long-established Spanish automaker in Barcelona.

During the visit, Sanchez reportedly will lead a business delegation, hold meetings with representatives from the automotive, energy and telecommunications sectors, and visit the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. According to confirmation from Spanish officials to the media, the prime minister is scheduled to visit the Beijing-based headquarters of Chinese tech firm Xiaomi.

Spanish media outlet InSpain.news commented that the trip directly addresses domestic public concerns over prices, trade, investment, jobs and Spain's strategic positioning in a volatile world, linking the visit to Spain's economic resilience.

Spain sees a "window of opportunity" with China, especially in trade and investment, said Mario Esteban, professor of East Asian Studies at the Autonomous University of Madrid, according to news website Euractiv. "Spain is seeking high-level bilateral engagement to 'catch up' in a relationship long underdeveloped."

Cui, the Chinese scholar, said Sanchez's visit will facilitate more efficient and targeted business cooperation between the two countries in key sectors, with potential to forge landmark projects in emerging fields as China enters the first year of its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

For multilateralism

The momentum of China-Spain engagement aligns with a broader warming trend in China-Europe relations. In the first three months of 2026, leaders from Ireland, Finland, the United Kingdom and Germany had visited China. A European Parliament delegation also visited China for the first time in eight years.

This underscores the view that engaging with China does not run counter to European interests, but rather serves to advance them, especially as Europe pursues greater strategic autonomy and economic resilience.

Sanchez's frequent visits to China open up more possibilities for deepening China-Europe exchanges, positioning Spain as a model for rational communication and stable cooperation between China and European countries, said Jiang Shixue, a professor at Shanghai University.

At a time when global industrial and supply chains face disruptions and world economic growth is under pressure, deepening practical cooperation between China and Spain not only brings tangible benefits to both peoples, but also serves as a key stabilizer for the global economy, said Yao, the Chinese ambassador to Spain, in an essay on the embassy's website.

As a major EU member state, Spain plays an important role in international and regional affairs, upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, multilateralism, free trade and global fairness and justice, he noted.

China and Spain share extensive common ground on major global issues such as safeguarding world peace and development, addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity, Yao said, adding that both countries should prioritize cooperation and jointly safeguard the multilateral system.