Spanish King Set to Visit China for First Time in Nearly Two Decades
(MENAFN) Spanish King Felipe VI will embark on a state visit to China next month at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Beijing announced Monday, marking the first trip by a Spanish monarch in nearly two decades.
Scheduled for Nov. 10-13, the visit will be King Felipe’s first official journey to China since ascending the throne in 2014.
“This is the first state visit to China by King Felipe VI since he ascended to the throne, and also the first visit by a Spanish king to China in 18 years, which holds great significance,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.
Highlighting Spain’s role as a key European Union member and strategic partner, Mao said, “China is willing to work with Spain, taking King Felipe VI's visit to China as an opportunity, to consolidate traditional friendship, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen multilateral coordination, and promote the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership to achieve more results,” adding that the two countries have recently maintained “high-level development.”
Bilateral trade has surged to $48.6 billion in recent years, making China Spain’s largest trading partner outside the EU.
Earlier this year in Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, urging against a global trade war and emphasizing “the importance of open markets and international cooperation.”
During a separate April visit to China, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping global sanctions, Sanchez called for a “joint” approach to major global challenges, including the climate emergency, development of financing based on international law, and principles of the UN Charter.
In related news, Mao confirmed that leaders from Georgia, Serbia, Nigeria, Slovenia, and other nations will attend the eighth China International Import Expo in Shanghai from Nov. 5-10, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivering a keynote address at the opening.
She also noted that Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna will visit China from Nov. 4-6.
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