King Felipe VI Embarks on First Spanish State Visit to China in 18 Years Amid Shifting Global Alignments
- SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS
- 3 days ago
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MADRID, November 11, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – King Felipe VI of Spain began a four-day state visit to China on Tuesday, marking the first trip by a Spanish monarch to the country in 18 years, as Madrid pursues closer economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing amid increasingly strained relations with Washington.
The visit coincides with the 20th anniversary of high-level bilateral relations between Spain and China and underscores Madrid’s growing role as one of Beijing’s most engaged European partners.
King Felipe, accompanied by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, Industry Secretary Jordi García Brustenga, and a delegation of Spanish business leaders, is scheduled to spend Tuesday in Chengdu before traveling to Beijing for a private dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
On Wednesday, the Spanish monarch will hold official meetings with President Xi, Premier Li Qiang, and top legislator Zhao Leji, followed by a forum with Spanish and Chinese business leaders on Thursday and a visit to the Gestamp automotive components plant near Beijing.
The state visit follows three trips to China by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in recent years, part of Madrid’s strategy to rebalance a heavily skewed trade relationship. Spain imported €45 billion worth of goods from China in 2024 while exporting only €7.5 billion, according to Spain’s state trade agency ICEX.
Beijing has reciprocated the diplomatic outreach. In December, Madrid hosted the first overseas edition of the Imperial Springs International Forum (ISIF) — often referred to as China’s equivalent of the World Economic Forum in Davos — signaling Beijing’s recognition of Spain as a key European partner.
President Xi last visited Spain in 2018, at the beginning of Sánchez’s term.
Expanding Trade and Investment
Spain’s strengthened ties with China have already yielded tangible economic benefits, particularly in the agri-food and industrial sectors.Exports of Spanish pork to China rose 8% to €700 million ($780 million) between January and July 2025 compared to the same period last year, even as exports from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States declined, ICEX data show.
“China has become an essential market for Spanish exporters,” said Javier Briones, export director at Grupo Tello Alimentación. “We are in China’s hands — but we couldn’t ask for a better ambassador than the King of Spain to defend our interests.”
Beyond agriculture, Chinese companies such as CATL, Envision, and Chery are ramping up investments in Spain, including EV battery factories, car manufacturing plants, and green hydrogen infrastructure. Envision and Hygreen have pledged to open electrolyser production facilities, while three Chinese energy firms have invested in a potassium mine in northeastern Spain.
Analysts also suggest that Spain is a leading contender to host BYD’s third European car manufacturing plant, supported by the company’s rapid expansion of dealerships and the absence of a dominant local competitor.
Strategic Balancing
The strengthening of Madrid–Beijing ties comes as Spain seeks to hedge against uncertain relations with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of potential sanctions against Spain over its NATO defense spending shortfall and policy differences regarding Gaza.
“China could provide an alternative in terms of investment and industrial cooperation,” said Alicia García-Herrero, Senior Fellow at the Bruegel Institute. “It makes sense economically — but politically, it reflects Spain’s growing bet on Beijing as a counterweight to Washington.”
Despite the warming ties, concerns remain regarding the potential use of Huawei technology in sensitive Spanish government projects. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Digital Transformation canceled a fiber-optic infrastructure project with Telefónica involving Huawei equipment, citing national security considerations.
King Felipe’s visit, analysts say, signals a recalibration of Spain’s global strategy — one that prioritizes economic opportunity and diversification over long-standing geopolitical alignments.
