In November 2018, a Pedro Sánchez without half a dozen months at the head of the Spanish government received Chinese leader Xi Jinping on a state visit on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Madrid and Beijing. At the time, the theme that dominated the agenda was trade relations. In addition to the signed agreements, the political declaration of both advocated for an “open, balanced and inclusive” global economy, at a time when Donald Trump was starting a trade war from the White House against China.
Furthermore, Xi invited – without success – Spain to be part of the new silk road and promised to open his country’s economy to foreign products and investments. Against the backdrop of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations, it is now Sánchez’s turn to reciprocate the visit, which will be followed in the coming days by the President of France and of the European Commission and, later, by the head of European diplomacy.
If trade and investment continue to be part of the agenda for meetings to be held in China – Sánchez’s visit starts at the Boao Forum, a meeting of Asian businessmen and leaders inspired by the Davos model – the war in Ukraine will be central taking into account the perspective of Beijing asserting itself as a possible mediator between Kiev and Moscow. A scenario that no one would have risked five years ago, but which is part of Xi’s more assertive role as a leader reinforced by an unprecedented third term and the country’s recent diplomatic success in mediating the reestablishment of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
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