Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Embarks on 4-Day Key Visit to China and Vietnam to Strengthen Trade Relations
Madrid, April 8 (Reuters): Following the global trade tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is embarking on a key four-day trip to China and Vietnam to build stronger relations. Sánchez will begin his visit on Wednesday in Vietnam, followed by a one-day visit to Beijing on Friday.
During his two-day stay in Vietnam, Sánchez will strengthen political relations with the communist leadership. He will then travel to China’s capital, Beijing. This will be Sánchez's third visit to China, and he is aiming to establish Spain as a mediator between the European Union (EU) and China.
In September last year, during a visit to China, Sánchez announced a shift in Spain’s stance regarding the European Union’s tariffs on Chinese electric cars. Since then, various investments from China into Spain have been secured, including a battery manufacturing plant by CATL and a company called Envision, which aims to create electrolyzers for green hydrogen production. Discussions are also ongoing about projects involving lithium battery manufacturer Sematac and Chinese electrolyzer maker Hygreen.
Spain's Economic Minister Carlos Cuervo stated that China could become an important strategic partner for both Spain and Europe, and Sánchez's initiative is becoming increasingly acceptable among other EU member states.
Ramon Gascón Alonso, the Asia-Pacific coordinator for Spain’s Exporters and Investors Club, mentioned that although Sánchez’s visit was scheduled earlier, it is now seen as an "optimal time" following the U.S. tariff announcement. This visit could help Spain play a role in the global geopolitical landscape, and more investments from China into Spain are expected.
However, Sánchez must remain cautious about Spain’s stance towards China, as Spain's goat meat industry is currently under an anti-dumping investigation by China. A government source noted that the resolution of this dispute is not expected soon.
