Spain Seeks Deeper Ties With China     04/13 06:09

   

   MADRID (AP) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez is in China again this 
week, his fourth trip in as many years to the world's number two 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 Snchez's vocal disapproval of the conflict.

   On Monday, Snchez urged China to assume a larger role in a multipolar 
world, speaking at Beijing's Tsinghua University a day before he is set to meet 
with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

   "China can do more. For example, by demanding ... that international law be 
respected and that the conflicts in Lebanon, Iran, Gaza and the West Bank 
and Ukraine cease," Snchez said.

   Here's what to know about the Spanish leader's visit.

   Snchez is back in China, again

   Spain says it wants to diversify its political relations with the world's 
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 is conducted by 
the European Union, which negotiates 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 -- 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's loudest critic of the U.S. and Israel's military actions in the 
Middle East, with the Snchez government recently declaring its airspace closed 
to U.S. planes being used in Iran, and refusing the U.S. the use of jointly 
operated military bases in southern Spain.

   "Given the increased frictions with the U.S. administration, these annual 
meetings have taken on an increased importance," said Eric Sigmon, a 
Madrid-based political analyst and a former U.S. national security adviser, 
about Snchez's latest trip to China.

   Snchez is in China from April 13-15, and will hold talks Tuesday with Xi, 
Premier Li Qiang and China's 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's 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 to China, which has a 
population of more than 1.4 billion people.

   Snchez's government has had little success, with China accounting for about 
74% of Spain's overall trade gap.

   "This repeated annual pilgrimage by Snchez -- his fourth in four years -- 
highlights an increasingly one-sided and unbalanced relationship," said Alicia 
Garca-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at the French investment bank 
Natixis.

   For China, Spain serves as a relatively soft, conciliatory partner that 
advocates for dialogue over tougher EU measures, Garca-Herrero said.

   Snchez, speaking in Beijing on Monday, said the EU had done its part to 
balance trade, and urged China to follow suit.

   "We need China to do the same. To open up so that Europe doesn't have to 
close itself off," he said.

   Spain wants good ties with major global powers

   As a mid-size political power, Spain under Snchez has said it wants to seek 
stronger bilateral ties with the world's large powers and economies, including 
China and, increasingly, India, in addition to its relationship with the U.S.

   Spain's King Felipe VI also made an official visit to China last 
November, the first time in 18 years that a Spanish monarch did so, 
demonstrating the nation's interest in bolstering its ties with Beijing.

   Snchez'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 "cutting 
your own throat."

   On Monday, Snchez 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 weapons.

   "Especially now that the U.S. has decided to withdraw from many of these 
fronts," Snchez said.