Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez to meet Xi in Beijing next week

The head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, will travel to Beijing next week to meet President Xi Jinping, with whom he will notably discuss the Chinese plan to settle the conflict in Ukraine, one of his ministers announced on Thursday.

Pedro Sánchez's visit will take place three months before Spain assumes the presidency of the European Union (EU) on July 1 for a period of six months, underlined the Minister for the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, in an interview with public television TVE.

Also this meeting with the Chinese leader will be an opportunity for Pedro Sánchez “

”, continued Félix Bolaños.

Discuss the Chinese peace plan

Spain's socialist prime minister will be only the second leader of an EU country to visit China since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic more than three years ago, after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last November .

Pedro Sánchez will travel to Beijing after taking part in the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), on the island of Hainan, with the entire China tour scheduled to take place on March 30 and 31, according to a government statement. Spanish.

“

” that Pedro Sánchez will discuss with the Chinese president, declared Félix Bolaños.

Read alsoWar in Ukraine: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping discuss the Chinese peace plan

Like the EU, Spain has given full support to Ukraine in the conflict with Russia.

In February, China proposed a 12-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for more than a year.

Xi Jinping paid a high-profile visit to Moscow earlier this week that was interpreted as a strong show of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin praised the Chinese plan and said he was open to negotiations with Ukraine, but the United States and Europe remain highly skeptical of Beijing's ability to play a mediating role.

"

," added Félix Bolaños, considered Pedro Sánchez's right-hand man.