The view of Beijing and Madrid Photo: VCG

Editor's Note:
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made his third trip to China in two years from April 10 to 11, demonstrating Madrid's willingness to engage in closer pragmatic cooperation with Beijing. China-Spain relations are an important part of China-EU relations, and this trip is among the recent intensive visits to China by European policymakers. What has driven Spain's pragmatic attitude toward China? Pedro Laborda (Laborda), former president of the China-Spain Researchers Network and a professor at Nantong University, shared his insights with Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Zixuan. "I think that the relationship between Spain and China now can be a good example for other European countries," he noted.


GT: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez just concluded a trip to China. Based on the results of his visit, what are your expectations for China-Spain cooperation?

Laborda: Actually, I can see that there is a lot of cooperation between Spain and China. This is not the first time that Prime Minister Sánchez has visited China. He came last September. Also, in October, we had the visit of Juan Cruz Cigudosa, the secretary of state for science, innovation and universities, who had a meeting with Chen Jiachang, the vice minister of science and technology, in Beijing. So what I can see is that the relationship is becoming deeper, for example, in the sphere of the development of technology and science. Most of the meetings are related to more scientific and technological exchanges between Spanish and Chinese universities and companies. I think what we can expect from this visit is more cooperation and more exchanges between the two countries, as well as more technological discoveries together with the cooperation of Spanish and Chinese institutions.


GT: In addition to Spain, officials from Italy, Portugal, France and other European nations have also recently visited China. Some believe that the shifts in the international landscape, particularly with pressure from Washington, are driving Europe to adopt a "diplomatic offensive" toward China. What has driven these intensive visits, and what trends do they reveal? 

Laborda: The relations between the EU and China have been excellent for decades. In the past, leading countries like Germany and France spearheaded this cooperation. Now, it seems that Spain is a notable country in this cooperation and relations between the EU and China.

Spain and China share common interests in some research fields and technological fields that they consider especially important for the development of both countries. One of them is the development of alternative energy sources, especially solar energy and wind energy. Additionally, both China and Spain are focused on environmental protection and are working to reduce pollution. They are also collaborating on the development of materials for aerospace and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence. There is also a current trend of development in sustainable agriculture. While the relationship between Spain and China may have deepened recently, the overall relations between the EU and China have remained strong over the past decades.

Pedro Laborda Photo: Courtesy of Laborda

GT: There is a view that Spain's friendly gestures toward China are a natural result of economic complementarity and demonstrate wisdom in achieving geopolitical balance. What is your take on this? Could this approach serve as a good example for other EU countries?

Laborda: I think there is indeed complementarity in the relationship between Spain and China. This is further supported by China's free visa policy, which allows a 30-day visa-free entry for tourists from countries including Spain, France, Germany and Italy. We can see that both China and the EU are trying to promote mobility between the two sides to improve cooperation and tourism.

I think that the relationship between Spain and China is now a good example for other European countries. China has developed very well in some fields and Europe has developed very well in other fields. This complementarity can be very interesting. In recent years, we started to see some Chinese electric cars in Spain. Spain has a lot of interest in developing factories and companies that can produce electric cars, and China is very advanced in this field. I think this shows complementarity. I think the relationship between Spain and China at this moment can be a good example for other European countries which are also interested in developing electric cars and high technology.


GT: Recently, the US announced "reciprocal tariffs" on countries around the world, imposing a 20 percent tariff on EU imports. Later, it decided to pause the tariffs for most of its trade partners, including the EU, for 90 days. If these US tariffs take effect, what kind of impact could they have on European countries? 

Laborda: It will be sad news. I think that facilitating the exchange of products between countries is very important for international development, including the development of European countries and also for the development of America. The US tariff moves are going to make international development slow down.

The US is an important partner for China and Europe. It has a large economy, but it seems that its relations with both are not as smooth as before. Maybe, this will have a positive effect on the relationship between European countries and China. 

I'm not only concerned about the potential increase in tariffs, but also about the limited exchanges in technology and science between the US and other countries, including European countries and China. I think this will pose a significant handicap for international scientific and technical development.


GT: On April 8, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underscored "the responsibility of Europe and China, as two of the world's largest markets, to support a strong reformed trading system, free, fair and founded on a level playing field" in a phone call with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, what constructive roles can China and EU countries, especially Spain, play together in the current global economy?

Laborda: I think the China-Spain relationship has been marked by reciprocity, which is the reason why it is so successful. Now, we have several Confucius Institutes in Spain, and this helps develop relations between universities and increase exchanges between both countries. At the same time, we have two Instituto Cervantes in China teaching Spanish culture and the Spanish language and also trying to enforce the scientific relations between Spain and China. This means that there are Chinese institutions entering Spain and Spanish institutions entering China for scientific development and cultural exchanges. 


GT: At the China Development Forum 2025 held in Beijing in March, European businesses accounted for around 40 percent of the total multinational enterprise representatives, highlighting their enthusiasm for continued investment in the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping remarked during a meeting with representatives of the international business community that investing in China is investing in the future. Do you agree? What is behind European businesses' enthusiasm for investing in China?

Laborda: If you're investing in China, you're not only investing in the future; you're also investing in the present. China is a huge market with a large consumer base. I think there is a common interest between China and Spain in promoting collaboration between Chinese and Spanish companies, as well as in advancing their technologies. The exchange of ideas and technology is what they are currently striving to achieve.