Top Spanish diplomat Albares to pay 2-day visit to China

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares will pay a two-day visit to China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

Albares, also Spain’s European Union and cooperation minister, will visit from Tuesday the world’s second-largest economy at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the ministry said.

The trip comes amid a trade war initiated by the US, as well as restrictions imposed on tech and rare earths by Western nations, as well as China.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain, and the two nations celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2023.

China is Spain’s largest trading partner outside the EU, as the bilateral trade volume has surged to $48.6 billion in recent years.

In June, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, warned against a trade war, calling for "open trade" and "economic openness."

Sanchez, who visited China last year, called for a "joint" response to major global challenges such as climate emergency and development of financing based on international law and principles of the UN Charter.