As soon as he landed in China, on a trip highly prepared by the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez has sent several very clear messages to the Chinese political and economic leadership meeting at the Boao Forum, on the island of Hainan, a kind of Davos for the giant Asian.
Cautiously, without expressly mentioning sensitive issues for the Chinese regime such as human rights, but making it clear that Europe "will defend its values", Sánchez has launched a speech against protectionism in which he calls on the Chinese to open up to European investment if they do not want the reaction to their closure to be that the European Union also protects itself by closing itself to Chinese investments, one of Beijing's main complaints in the post-pandemic economy.
"We must open up the East [China] so that the West [the EU] does not have to close in on itself,"
The tension between China and the EU is growing, not as strong as the one between Beijing and the US, but important.
However, China has been sending positive messages in recent weeks, especially after radically changing its isolation policy to curb the covid, and ensures that it is working with Russia to seek a peace process in Ukraine.
And in this context, China is inviting European leaders to Beijing.
Sánchez, who will arrive in the capital today to meet President Xi Jinping tomorrow, is the first of them, but immediately after will come the Frenchman Emmanuel Macron, the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, or the head of politics European foreign, Josep Borrell.
Sánchez takes advantage of the advantage of being the first to send clear messages in defense of the European position, but also to recognize the international role of China and the possibility that his movement will be decisive in stopping the war in Ukraine.
The president has vindicated his role as an international leader, which has taken him in just one week to Brussels, the Dominican Republic and now to China, with a brief stop in Spain where he announced the change of two ministers in his government.
“In a few days, I have attended the European Council in Brussels, the Ibero-American Summit in Santo Domingo, and now I am here on an official visit to China.
In less than a week, I have met with more than 40 leaders from three different continents.
And let me be clear: at every meeting I have heard the same yearning for peace, stability and prosperity.
Nobody wants economic fragmentation or war”, launched the Spanish president, a clear defender of multilateralism, a world based on rules and economic openness.
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The China that Pedro Sánchez finds
Sánchez has not softened the situation nor has he avoided the points of tension between the EU and China, especially his support for Russia and his economic protectionism, which means that his companies can go to Europe, but the European ones have many difficulties entering into China.
“Humanity faces global challenges of an unprecedented scale: a climate emergency, a pandemic, and Russia's brutal and illegal aggression against Ukraine, which is causing a major humanitarian crisis, food insecurity, inflation, and rising debt distress in a growing number of vulnerable countries”, the president started.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, speaks at the Boao Forum, this ThursdayCHINA DAILY (REUTERS)
The head of the Spanish Government has arrived in China with the intention of learning first-hand about President Xi's plan for peace in Ukraine.
Sánchez, like the other European leaders, insists that any type of solution must be proposed with kyiv in mind.
In fact, Volodimir Zelensky is already asking Xi to meet to discuss these ideas that he raised on a recent trip to Moscow.
But Sánchez wants to convey a message of support for China's efforts, which he encourages to make every possible effort to achieve peace in Ukraine.
Above all, the Spanish president supports the reopening of China to the world that Xi seems to be promoting: “I welcome the intensification of diplomatic contacts by the Chinese authorities with leaders around the world.
It reflects a high degree of responsibility, and we want to contribute to these efforts.
Our points of view may differ in some areas, but we must continue to build bridges and increase mutual trust”, he pointed out at the forum.
Sánchez is committed to a redefinition of the relationship between the EU and China.
“Together, China and Europe account for a quarter of the world's population and about half of the world's GDP.
China and the EU, as major markets and geopolitical entities, must compete in some areas and cooperate in others.
Our companies are often competitors, but also partners in the development of transport, energy and health care infrastructure projects not only for Eurasia, but also for the world.
We must level the playing field and ensure full reciprocity between partners.
That means opening up the East, so that the West does not have to close in on itself”, insisted the head of the Spanish Executive.
Sánchez also took advantage of the forum, full of Chinese economic leaders, to claim Spain as an ideal place for foreign investment: “Spain is one of the best places in Europe to invest and do business.
We offer an ideal geopolitical position, straddling three continents, a vibrant and robust private sector, world-class physical and digital infrastructure, a highly educated workforce, affordable clean energy, and the institutional stability and legal certainty that investments need to thrive. ”.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, during their meeting this Thursday in Boao. Borja Puig de la Bellacasa (Moncloa / EFE)
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