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Spanish PM Sanchez to visit China April 11-15, Chinese foreign ministry says

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 8, 2026

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· Last updated: April 8, 2026

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Spanish PM Sanchez to visit China April 11-15, Chinese foreign ministry says
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BEIJING, April 8 (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit China from April 11 to April 15, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday, in what will be his fourth trip to the

Spanish prime minister to make fourth trip to China in as many years

Strengthening Spain-China Relations Through Diplomatic Visits

Overview of the Upcoming Visit

BEIJING, April 8 (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will make his fourth trip to China in as many years this month, as had been widely expected, as Madrid seeks to build on its commercial ties with the world's second-largest economy.

Details of the Scheduled Meetings

Sanchez will visit China from April 11 to 15, and will hold talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and China's top legislator Zhao Leji, a spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

Previous Diplomatic Engagements

The Spanish prime minister last visited China in April 2025, and before that, in September 2024 and March 2023.

Royal Visits and Their Significance

King Felipe also paid a state visit to China last November, the first by a Spanish monarch in 18 years - an indication of the closeness of bilateral ties despite broader European and U.S. mistrust of Beijing.

Statements from Chinese Officials

"China is willing to work with Spain to take Prime Minister Sanchez's visit to China as an opportunity to further deepen strategic mutual trust, intensify exchanges and cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, and push bilateral relations to new heights," said the spokesperson, Mao Ning.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ethan Wang; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Key Takeaways

  • This marks Sánchez’s fourth trip to China in as many years, underscoring the strategic importance Madrid places on Beijing relations (huffingtonpost.es)
  • Spain seeks to rebalance its significant trade deficit with China—2024 imports stood at about €45 bn vs. €7.4 bn in exports—by pressing for more equitable economic cooperation (euronews.com)
  • The visit occurs amid Spain’s pursuit of diversified foreign partnerships and growing policy autonomy, especially against the backdrop of tensions with the United States (globaltimes.cn)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visit China?
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit China from April 11 to April 15.
How many times has Pedro Sanchez traveled to China in recent years?
This will be Pedro Sanchez's fourth trip to China in as many years.
Who announced the visit of the Spanish Prime Minister to China?
The Chinese foreign ministry announced Pedro Sanchez's visit to China.
Who reported the news about Pedro Sanchez's visit to China?
The news was reported by Ryan Woo and Ethan Wang, with editing by Himani Sarkar.

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