Sanchez advocates greater collaboration with China in a “complex” international context

September 9 () –

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has advocated this Monday for greater collaboration with China in the face of a “complex” international context, statements he made during his speech at the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the Spain-China Council Foundation Forum held in Beijing.

“In Europe we are unfortunately immersed in the third year of the war of aggression unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. The Middle East is experiencing an escalation of tension and violence of unprecedented intensity. And in the meantime, global challenges such as the climate emergency, digital transformation and the fight against inequality are taking on new dimensions. (…) And the best response to this complex context is more dialogue and more exchange of ideas. Spain and China maintain strong ties,” said Sánchez.

In this regard, he recalled that last year, during his official visit to the Asian giant, a “new boost was given to cooperation” between both nations, especially in the agri-food, tourism and cultural sectors.

“Even on those issues where our positions do not fully coincide, we maintain a constructive willingness to engage in dialogue. We are committed to developing a positive agenda and seeking consensual solutions that benefit all parties,” he added.

The Spanish president has asserted that current diplomacy “is not only a matter for governments” but must also involve companies, cities, regions, universities, think tanks, foundations and the entire population, in order to promote a “valuable” exchange of ideas and dialogue.

In this way, he has advocated the signing of more brotherhood and collaboration agreements between Chinese and Spanish cities, in line with the “local and regional cooperation” that “uniquely underpins relations” between the two countries.

Sánchez also highlighted “green innovation” as one of the main areas of collaboration between Beijing and Madrid, which are committed to “a transition towards green energy sources”, the protection of biodiversity and the prevention of environmental pollution as a way of addressing “one of the major causes of our time” such as climate change, and which will lead both parties to sign a joint declaration and an agreement on the matter.

He then highlighted the cultural rapprochement following a “milestone of great symbolic value” such as the inauguration of a branch of the Cervantes Institute in the city of Shanghai.

The two nations will also cooperate in the field of architecture through the Spanish Architecture Biennale, which will open at Tongji University, and which will also include an international exhibition on Chinese architecture.

“And tourism is finally bringing us closer. Against the most gloomy forecasts, not only have we had the opportunity to see tourism, but we have had the opportunity to see tourism. We have been recovering the levels prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, I repeat, much earlier than some predicted. In addition to consolidating the current trend of the first quarter, at the end of this year we are going to exceed those figures,” said Sánchez.

Regarding this sector, the president has asserted that air connectivity must continue to be improved to encourage tourism for citizens of both countries, and has highlighted the inclusion of Spain in China’s visa exemption policy for tourists.

“In short, a panorama full of opportunities is opening up before us; it is a matter of having the ambition and courage to take advantage of them. I invite you to do so from this Spain-China forum, as it really is a decisive player that contributes to mutual understanding and knowledge between the two great countries,” he concluded.