King Felipe VI and President Xi Jinping signed a package of agreements in Beijing to deepen cooperation on language exchanges, trade and aquatic-product exports. The first state visit by King Felipe to China included high-level meetings and a Spain-China business forum in Chengdu. Spain is actively courting Chinese investment and green technologies as it accelerates its renewable-energy transition and seeks more balanced trade with China.
Spain and China Deepen Ties: King Felipe VI and Xi Jinping Sign Cooperation Pacts in Beijing
King Felipe VI and President Xi Jinping signed a package of agreements in Beijing to deepen cooperation on language exchanges, trade and aquatic-product exports. The first state visit by King Felipe to China included high-level meetings and a Spain-China business forum in Chengdu. Spain is actively courting Chinese investment and green technologies as it accelerates its renewable-energy transition and seeks more balanced trade with China.
11:53 AM, 11/12/2025Politics
Spain and China sign new cooperation agreements during state visit
Spanish King Felipe VI and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a series of agreements in Beijing on Wednesday to expand cooperation on language exchanges, trade and the export of aquatic products, as both sides pledged to deepen their strategic partnership.
The state visit — the first by King Felipe to China — included an official welcome at the Great Hall of the People, where the king and Queen Letizia were greeted by Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, with a military band performance and a 21-gun salute. The Spanish delegation included Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and other senior ministers.
"China stands ready to work hand in hand with Spain to build a comprehensive strategic partnership that is more strategically steady, more dynamic in development, and more influential internationally," Xi said, noting the international situation is "complex and volatile."
According to the official Xinhua readout, Xi also said China would increase imports of Spanish goods, though he did not provide details. The signed documents cover cultural and language exchanges, economic cooperation and rules facilitating aquatic-product exports to China. King Felipe is also scheduled to meet with Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of China’s top legislative body.
Earlier in the trip the delegation visited Chengdu, where the king joined a Spain-China business forum attended by Spanish business leaders and government ministers to promote trade and investment ties.
Economic and energy context
Spain — the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy, with roughly 49.4 million people — has in recent years taken a less confrontational approach toward China than some EU peers and has intensified outreach to Chinese investors. Officials say Spain wants to rebalance trade with China, whose exports to Spain far exceed Spanish exports to China.
Spain is also accelerating its shift to renewables: it generated more than half of its electricity from renewable sources last year and needs critical raw materials, solar technology and other green technologies to meet its energy transition goals. Xi suggested both countries could explore cooperation in renewable energy and artificial intelligence.
Recent commercial ties include Chinese battery maker CATL’s joint venture with automaker Stellantis to build a battery plant in northern Spain, and agreements with Chinese firms Envision and Hygreen Energy to develop green hydrogen infrastructure.
Background: After his April meeting with Xi, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain supports "more balanced relations between the European Union and China." The EU negotiates trade terms on behalf of all 27 member states. The previous official state visit by a Spanish monarch to China took place in 2007; Xi last visited Spain in 2018.
AP writer Suman Naishadham contributed reporting from Madrid.