Spain and China Elevate Relations to Highest Level During Pedro Sánchez's Beijing Visit

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with both leaders calling for resistance to what they described as a return to the "law of the jungle" in international relations. The meeting, which lasted approximately one hour and was followed by a banquet, marked Sánchez's fourth visit to China in just over three years and his first with full official status. The two countries agreed to elevate their bilateral ties to a strategic dialogue, the highest level of diplomatic engagement Beijing offers select partners. Spain and China also signed 19 agreements during the visit, 10 of which focused on economic matters including trade, renewable energy, and the so-called smart economy.

19 (agreements) — Total agreements signed during Sánchez's Beijing visit

Xi frames global disorder as a clash between justice and force Xi opened the meeting with language that framed the current international moment in stark terms. „Today's world is in turmoil, trapped in a dispute between justice and power.” — Xi Jinping via CCTV He argued that both China and Spain are nations that "defend justice" and should "cooperate closely to confront the world's regression toward the law of the jungle," according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Xi also told Sánchez that the way a country treats international law "reflects its worldview, its conception of order, its values, and its sense of responsibility." The Chinese president praised Spain as a country that acts "with moral rectitude" and said both nations are "willing to place themselves on the right side of history." Xi also noted that China and Spain "have advanced steadily," describing the relationship as providing "stability to the relations between China and the EU." Separately on the same day, Xi received Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and proposed a four-point plan for peace in the Middle East, calling for adherence to peaceful coexistence, respect for national sovereignty, defense of international law, and coordination between security and development.

Sánchez positions Spain as bridge between Beijing and Brussels Sánchez used the visit to advance a strategy, described by his office at La Moncloa, of presenting Spain as a bridge between China and the European Union at a time of global disruption. „No one can be offended by this visit.” — Pedro Sánchez via El País He called China an irreplaceable interlocutor in resolving tensions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz, stating it was "very difficult to find other interlocutors who can untie this situation besides China." Sánchez also urged Beijing to take a more active role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, encouraging China to "continue to contribute actively to the reform" of the multilateral governance system. At a press conference, he argued that "China should see Europe as it sees Spain, as a place in which to invest and as a partner with which to launch industrial projects." The visit's economic dimension was underscored by two official banquets — one hosted by Xi and one by Chinese Premier Li Qiang — as well as the presence of approximately half a dozen Chinese ministers, which diplomatic sources described as an unusual sign of deference. Five of the 19 agreements focused on allowing Spanish agri-food products access to the Chinese market, and four were aimed at boosting Spanish exports.

Spain and China established diplomatic relations in 1973. Sánchez has pursued an active engagement policy with Beijing since taking office in 2018, making multiple visits to China as part of a broader strategy to diversify Spain's trade relationships and expand its geopolitical role within the European Union. The current visit takes place against a backdrop of significant global tension, including the ongoing US-Israel military operation against Iran, which began in late February 2026, and disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Spain has positioned itself as a critic of what it describes as unilateral actions in international affairs, including the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.

Domestic critics question the wisdom of embracing Beijing The visit drew sharp criticism from within Spain, particularly from opposition figures who questioned the appropriateness of deepening ties with China. Cristina Cifuentes, a former president of the Community of Madrid and a member of the People's Party, voiced her objections on the television program "Todo es mentira." „It takes courage, going to talk about international law in China, which is a dictatorship where human rights are not respected.” — Cristina Cifuentes via ABC Tu Diario en Español Cifuentes acknowledged that economic relations with China should not be severed, but argued that the frequency and tone of Sánchez's visits amounted to a form of political endorsement she found inappropriate. She also challenged the economic rationale for the visits, claiming that Spain's trade deficit with China had worsened during Sánchez's tenure. Conservative Spanish media, including El Mundo and ABC, published opinion pieces framing the visit as a capitulation to an authoritarian government and questioning the strategic value of the relationship for Spain. Sánchez, for his part, dismissed concerns about how Washington might interpret the visit, saying he had spoken with Xi about the "grave situation" in the Middle East and Ukraine, and that Spain's interest lay in a rules-based international order being respected by all parties.