On Thursday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez concluded his diplomatic trip to China, in a series of strategic dependencies in both the green energy and mobile technology sectors, deepening trade ties between China and Spain.
The Spanish Prime Minister’s tour of Xiaomi’s Beijing campus was also accompanied by green energy agreements. Spain intends to paint itself as both a European partner and a gateway for Chinese technological expansion.
With this visit, Madrid wants to serve as the entry point for Chinese capital into Europe, diplomatic discomfort in Brussels notwithstanding. Brussels has a word for what Prime Minister Sánchez did in Beijing this week, and that word is: de-risking – it describes, more or less, the opposite of what Sánchez did, as China and EU trade deals are still extremely minimal due to the Union’s close proximity to its ally, the US. But, with President Trump’s recent offense attitude toward Europe, this could very well change.
The Pedro Sanchez China visit included high level diplomacy meetings with Chinese President, Xi Jinping, as well as touring research hubs like Tsinghua University.
China and Spain Ties Deepen
At the center of the Pedro Sanchez China visit there was a clear emphasis on technological cooperation. During a tour of Xiaomi’s Beijing headquarters, Sánchez interacted with cutting-edge devices, from AI-powered glasses to electric vehicles like the SU7 and YU7.
After test-driving one of the vehicles, he described the experience as “Muy bien” and expressed enthusiasm about their future in China EU trade, stating, “The Spanish market is ready to welcome Xiaomi cars.”
Guided by Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, Sánchez explored how Chinese firms are moving beyond manufacturing into global standard setting. Xiaomi’s expansion into Spain, a member of Europe and China, where it held a 30% smartphone market share in 2025 illustrates how Chinese companies are embedding themselves in European markets through both products and partnerships.
The China and Spain collaboration extends beyond consumer technology. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao emphasized that both countries are working to “promote deeper cooperation among enterprises in technological innovation and industrial and supply chains.”
He highlighted sectors such as intelligent manufacturing, renewable energy, and electric vehicles as key areas for future Spanish Chinese growth.
Sánchez reinforced this message, noting that bilateral relations are “at their best in history,” with cooperation spanning trade, green energy, and technological innovation. The signing of Spanish Chinese agreements across science, education, and agriculture further reflects how economic and technological ties are becoming increasingly integrated.
Trade figures support this trajectory. In 2025, bilateral trade between China and Spain exceeded $55 billion, growing nearly 10% year-on-year.
Chinese investment in Spain particularly in renewable energy and infrastructure has contributed to local industry, while Spanish exports like olive oil and wine continue to gain traction in the Chinese market, showing no space for China EU trade deficit.
Strategic Alignment Amid Uncertainties
Beyond economics, the Spanish Chinese visit carries broader geopolitical implications. Beijing is going with the flow throughout the US-Israeli waged war on Iran to fill the global tech gap the US created.
Xi Jinping stressed the importance of strengthening coordination between the Spanish Chinese, calling for cooperation in trade, the “intelligent economy,” and cultural exchange. He noted that despite a “shifting and turbulent international landscape,” both countries have maintained steady relations by focusing on shared interests.
Sánchez said this perspective, urging greater mutual understanding and reaffirming Spain, a member of Europe and China, with its support for multilateralism. Both sides emphasized the need to uphold stable global supply chains at a time when protectionism and economic fragmentation are rising.
The Spain China trade relationship is an EU model. As debates intensify over technological sovereignty and dependency intensify, Spain’s openness to Chinese investment and technology positions it uniquely within the EU.
Sánchez’s speech at Tsinghua University captured this direction, describing the EU and China trade technological innovation as “a new engine for China-Spain cooperation,” with his visit not just being continuity in diplomatic China and Spain ties, but a much deeper integration in the global tech ecosystem.
As Chinese firms expand internationally and Spain strengthens its role as a European tech partner, the China Spain relations highlight a broader transformation, one where innovation, rather than ideology, is increasingly shaping alliances in a complex and uncertain world.
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