MADRID (AP) 鈥� Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez is in China again this week, his fourth trip in just over three years to the world鈥檚 second-largest economy as Spain seeks to strengthen its political and commercial ties with Beijing.
His visit comes at a complex geopolitical moment as European leaders try to influence an end to the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, and as Spain’s relationship with the U.S. has been strained by of the conflict.
On Monday, S谩nchez urged China to assume a larger role in a multipolar world, speaking at Beijing鈥檚 Tsinghua University a day before he is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
鈥淐hina can do more. For example, by demanding … that international law be respected 鈥媋nd that the conflicts in Lebanon, Iran, Gaza and the West Bank and Ukraine cease,鈥� S谩nchez 鈥宻aid.
Here鈥檚 what to know about the Spanish leader鈥檚 visit.
S谩nchez is back in China, again
Spain says it wants to diversify its political relations with the world鈥檚 large powers, including Beijing.
Spanish officials have said the government wants to shore up more Chinese investment, and boost exports to the country, even though trade policy is conducted by the European Union on behalf of all 27 member states.
The southern European nation, which generates more than half its electricity from renewable sources, needs Chinese critical raw materials, solar panels and green technologies 鈥� similar to other European countries transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Politically, the trip comes as Spain has stuck its neck out in Europe as the continent鈥檚 loudest critic of the U.S. and Israel’s military actions in the Middle East, with the S谩nchez government recently declaring being used in the Iran war, and refusing the U.S. the in southern Spain.
鈥淕iven the increased frictions with the U.S. administration, these annual meetings have taken on an increased importance,鈥� said Eric Sigmon, a Madrid-based political analyst and a former U.S. national security adviser, about S谩nchez鈥檚 latest trip to China.
S谩nchez is in China through Wednesday, and will hold talks Tuesday with Xi, Premier Li Qiang and China鈥檚 top lawmaker, Zhao Leji, the third-ranking leader of its ruling Communist Party.
A friendlier Spain seeks to balance trade with China with limited success
Spain, the eurozone鈥檚 fourth-largest economy, has been less adversarial toward China than other EU countries in recent years. It has sought to reposition trade relations with China, whose exports to Spain are far greater than those of the Iberian nation of 49 million people. China has a population of more than 1.4 billion people.
S谩nchez’s government has had little success, with China accounting for about 74% of Spain’s overall trade gap.
鈥淭his repeated annual pilgrimage by S谩nchez 鈥� his fourth in four (calendar) years 鈥� highlights an increasingly one-sided and unbalanced relationship,鈥� said Alicia Garc铆a-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at the French investment bank Natixis.
For China, Spain serves as 鈥渁 relatively soft, conciliatory partner鈥� that advocates for dialogue over tougher EU measures, Garc铆a-Herrero said.
S谩nchez, speaking in Beijing on Monday, said the EU had done its part, however slow-moving, to balance trade, and urged China to follow suit.
鈥淲e need China to do the same. To open up so that Europe doesn鈥檛 have to close itself off,鈥� he said.
Spain wants stronger ties with major global powers
As a midsize political power, Spain under S谩nchez has said it wants to develop stronger bilateral ties with the world鈥檚 large powers and economies, including China and, increasingly, India, in addition to the U.S.
厂辫补颈苍鈥檚 last November, the first time in 18 years that a Spanish monarch did so, demonstrating the nation鈥檚 interest in bolstering its relationship with Beijing.
S谩nchez’s last visit to Beijing ruffled feathers in Washington and took place shortly after the Trump administration announced sweeping global tariffs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the time warned Spain about 鈥渃utting your own throat.鈥�
On Monday, S谩nchez encouraged China to play a larger role alongside the EU to fight climate change, promote global health and control the development of responsible artificial intelligence as well as nuclear 鈥媤eapons.
鈥淓specially now that the U.S. has decided to withdraw from many of these fronts,鈥� S谩nchez said.
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