During the three-day visit, Sánchez is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials. The main focus will be on geopolitics, trade and investment, particularly in the energy, infrastructure and technology sectors.
Spain has consistently advocated for expanding economic ties with China, viewing it as a strategic partner rather than a competitor. This approach contrasts with that of the United States, where the administration of Donald Trump sees China as a key geopolitical rival and has imposed tariffs affecting European trade.
Madrid hopes the visit will help reduce its trade deficit with China, which reached nearly $50 billion in 2025. In particular, Spain aims to boost exports of agricultural and industrial products.
At the same time, the business community and opposition politicians have expressed concern about the potential economic consequences of tensions with the U.S., which remains a key investor in the Spanish economy. Meanwhile, Chinese investment in Spain is also growing rapidly, reaching €643 million in 2025 compared to €149 million a year earlier.
Among the expected outcomes of the visit is the signing of a regionalisation agreement for poultry exports, which would help mitigate the impact of disease-related trade restrictions. A similar mechanism previously helped preserve pork exports during an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak.
Despite the absence of major deals, the visit is seen as an important step in Spain’s strategy to diversify trade and strengthen its position in global markets.
PigUA.info, based on reuters.com