Sources said the business forum in Chengdu was the venue for a meeting between representatives of around 400 companies from Spain and China, where Chinese authorities received a direct request from King Felipe VI to address the challenges faced by Spanish companies in the local market. The King of Spain particularly emphasized the impact of tariffs on areas such as pork, and called for concrete measures to promote cooperation and remove technical and commercial obstacles. Throughout the day, King Felipe VI reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to acting as a reliable partner, both in attracting investment from China and in its role as a bridge between Asia, Latin America and the European Union.
During the official opening of his state visit to China, accompanied by Queen Letizia, King Felipe VI reiterated the internationalized nature of Spain’s economy and detailed to authorities and businessmen the importance of establishing a transparent and predictable regulatory framework, the statement said. The Heads of State emphasized that centers of bilateral economic exchange must correspond to the principles of mutual trust, legal security and market openness, which are fundamental to guarantee the permanence of joint projects. “If we want to build strong and lasting economic relations between Spain and China, we must build them on mutual trust, openness and legal security, where trade and investment remain the engines of stability and progress,” the king said, according to the media.
Media detailed that King Felipe VI, speaking before Chinese authorities and business representatives, stressed the need to create stable conditions and a clear regulatory environment for Spanish companies operating or interested in doing business in China. He stressed that predictability and regulatory clarity are essential for the development of cooperation projects, and highlighted Spain’s active efforts to foster a favorable environment for foreign investment and bilateral cooperation in the long term. “We know that business activities require certainty, a clear framework, and lasting relationships,” the king said, noting that China is working to strengthen strategic partnerships with Chinese companies.
During the event, King Felipe VI identified areas with high potential for bilateral cooperation, focusing on areas such as renewable energy, automobiles and pharmaceuticals, where Chinese innovation plays a central role in the global panorama. According to sources, the King also mentioned the agro-food industry and expressed his hopes for developing new markets for Spanish products in China. In his speech, he also emphasized the value of gastronomy as an element of cultural intimacy, praising China’s interest in Iberian cultural heritage, and calling on Chinese authorities and businessmen to familiarize themselves with Spanish cuisine.
The official also reported that King Felipe VI presented Spain as an ideal environment for foreign investment, highlighting its access to international trade flows and the strength of its logistics and service infrastructure. From this point of view, the King emphasized the mutual benefits of cooperation projects between Chinese and Spanish enterprises, and focused the discussion on the positive effects of technology transfer, capacity development and creation of common added value. He particularly highlighted Spain’s geopolitical position as a gateway to the emerging markets of the European Union and North Africa, as well as the businessman’s experience in Latin America, which could be an interesting element in the Chinese partner’s global expansion plans.
Officials said the event in Chengdu also served as a forum to review precedents and existing business partnerships between Spain and China, highlighting the role these meetings can play in fostering innovation, knowledge transfer and the realization of new joint projects. King Felipe VI underlined the value of state visits in this context and emphasized Spain’s intention to promote economic cooperation with China and open the possibility of new trade and investment opportunities. The head of state said he was “particularly excited to work together to promote new opportunities for cooperation that will lead to the mutual benefit of businesses and the prosperity of our peoples”, according to media reprints.
During the forum, Economy Minister Carlos Bodhi mentioned the importance of overcoming trade barriers in an uncertain international environment, according to officials. Mr. Bodhi emphasized the need for Spain and the European Union to build stable and deep relations with key partners, including China, as one of its strategic priorities. He also appreciated the contribution of Spanish companies to the Chinese territory, underlined the country’s continued favorable economic environment, and reiterated his call for Asian investors to locate in Spain. According to the Forum, the Minister affirmed that Spain will become the fastest growing developed economy in 2025 and praised the national development model for its ability to create quality jobs.
The report also includes reference to the roadmap set out in President Pedro Sánchez’s recent visit to Beijing, a framework outlining the development of bilateral relations, the implementation of which is reflected in the holding of this business forum, which is considered an expression of the joint will to strengthen future economic and trade relations.
At this conference, Mr. Pan Jiang, co-president of CATL, spoke to the media and appreciated the support of the Spanish government in the implementation of large-scale investments, especially the project to build a battery-specific gigafactory in Zaragoza with an investment amount of 4.1 billion euros announced in cooperation with Stellantis. Mr. Pan provided details on the scale of the works, the execution of which will create more than 4,500 jobs, and emphasized the quality of the company’s dialogue with the Spanish authorities in resolving administrative and technical issues.
The head of CATL pointed out that factors such as Spain’s institutional stability, intergovernmental cooperation, agreement on ethical principles and teamwork approach had a decisive influence on the selection of the European country for the development of the megaproject. He also praised Spain’s efforts to promote renewable energy, saying that renewable energy is fundamental for this sector. “Spain is one of the most committed governments in this regard, and for companies in the renewable energy sector, that is something we deeply value,” Pan Jian said, according to the source.
CATL’s co-chairs asserted that the partnership between the Chinese company, car manufacturer Stellantis and the Spanish institution will benefit all parties involved, and pledged to continue CATL’s investments to create jobs within the European Union and boost economic growth within the region. According to published information, this industrial cooperation is part of both countries’ strategies to advance in the technology and clean energy sectors.
Among those in attendance were Carlos Bodhi, Minister of Economy of Spain, Antonio Garamendi, President of the Spanish Confederation of Economic Associations (CEOE), and José Luis Bonetto, President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who took part in a dialogue on reducing trade barriers and the possibility of expanding bilateral relations.
Media reported that both King Felipe VI and members of the Spanish delegation pushed for the establishment of economic cooperation based on clear game rules and the predictability of a regulatory framework, with the aim of strengthening investor confidence and creating conditions for inclusive development. They emphasized that the continuity and diversification of substantive alliances could be a driving force for wealth and job creation, both in Spain and China, and in third markets where shared experience could be decisive.
According to information provided by officials, the Chengdu Forum recorded a mutual interest in moving towards more fluid trade relations, including deregulation and the promotion of large-scale projects, in a context where cooperation between Spain and China gains relevance not only on a bilateral scale, but also in the overall international economic framework.
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