The Spanish premier announced 19 bilateral agreements with China and urged Beijing to help broker Middle East peace, while avoiding comment on his wife's trial.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended China's role as a key player in international stability and the search for peace in the Middle East during a visit to Beijing on Tuesday, while announcing 19 bilateral agreements to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
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At a press conference following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sánchez confirmed the start of a "strategic dialogue" with Beijing and stressed that China should see Spain and Europe as "partners" for investment and cooperation.
Of the agreements announced, a dozen are linked to the economy and aim to boost trade relations between the two nations.
Sánchez insisted on Spain's pro-European foreign policy and called for the European Union to approach its relationship with China pragmatically.
"Spain is a profoundly pro-European country," he said, adding that it is possible to strengthen ties with Beijing while defending European interests and the international order.
Wife's prosecution overshadows trip
During the press conference, Sánchez avoided assessing the decision announced on Monday by Judge Juan Carlos Peinado to prosecute his wife Begoña Gómez for alleged influence peddling, corruption in business, embezzlement of public funds, and misappropriation.
"As I have always said, what I ask of justice is that it does justice. Justice must do justice. And as I am convinced that time will put everything and everyone in their place, well..." Sánchez replied when asked about the matter. "I don't have to say any more."
Sánchez also called for greater Chinese involvement in the world order and in resolving major conflicts.
He told Xi that China should play an active role in the search for peace in the Middle East.
Xi calls for lasting ceasefire
The Spanish leader's defence of a diplomatic solution coincided with Xi's message in recent hours.
The Chinese president called for a "comprehensive and lasting" ceasefire in the Middle East, stressing that the solution to the crisis must be found through political and diplomatic means.
Xi defended respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region and warned against the selective use of international law, stating that it cannot be applied "when it is convenient and discarded when it is not".
The Chinese leader also warned of the risk of "the law of the strongest" prevailing in the international system, an expression he also used during his meeting with Sánchez.
Speech at Tsinghua University
On Monday, Sánchez spoke at Beijing's Tsinghua University, where he defended the need to build "balanced and reciprocal" trade relations between China, Spain and the European Union.
During his speech, Sánchez advocated viewing the new international context as a "multiplication of poles" of power and prosperity, rather than a simple relay of hegemonies.
"Spain's proposal is clear: to build a relationship based on mutual respect," he said, calling for cooperation "as much as possible", competition "when necessary" and responsible management of differences, according to a statement from Moncloa.
Sánchez also defended a renewed multilateralism, with UN reforms that better reflect the current balance of power, and called for greater involvement of major powers in global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and the control of nuclear arsenals.
According to Moncloa, the visit to Beijing seeks to position Spain as a reliable interlocutor between Europe and China in an increasingly fragmented international scenario.
This is Sánchez's fourth visit to China in just over three years.