King Felipe VI and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a statement this Wednesday (12 November 2025), underscoring the strong friendship between Spain and China and the relationship of trust professed by both countries, inaugurating bilateral talks on the second day of their state visit to China.
After an official reception at the People’s Palace in Tiananmen Square, Spanish and Chinese delegations led by the leaders of both countries held bilateral talks, paving the way for the subsequent signing of the agreement.
The Chinese president explained that in the face of the current complex and changing international situation, “the world needs more constructive forces committed to peace and development.”
He said China is ready to work with Spain to build a comprehensive strategic partnership with “more solid direction, more dynamic development, and greater international influence” to contribute “even more significantly to global prosperity, peace and development.”
“A good Chinese friend”
Xi Jinping regarded Felipe VI as a “good friend of the Chinese people” and recalled that the Spanish royal family had made important contributions to the development of relations between China and Spain, such as when King Juan Carlos I made his first official visit to China in 1978, when Spain was beginning its reform and opening-up policy.
Xi Jinping emphasized that the two countries have set an example of friendly coexistence and common development between countries with different histories, cultures, and social systems, and have also made significant contributions to global cooperation for open development and upholding international equity and justice.
King Felipe VI recalled that this first state visit to the People’s Republic of China coincided in some way with the state visit made by Jingping in 2018. He also recalled that since 1978, when the first visit of the King of Spain took place, “relations of trust, strong bilateral relations and mutual trust have been established, based on the principles of respect and shared prosperity.”
King Felipe VI, who visited China with the Queen during the 2008 Olympics, also participated in 2000, and said: “Undoubtedly, the progress and progress since that year has been very remarkable and continues to be to the admiration of the whole world.” Moreover, they returned in 2010 and opened the first Cervantes Institute in Beijing, and recently government president Pedro Sánchez was able to open a center in Shanghai.
The King emphasized “the will to work together to explore opportunities for continued evolution and the well-being of the peoples of our two countries.”
jc (efe, Reuters)