The official reason for the trip is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries. While Madrid supports Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan, which includes the return of Crimea, Beijing does not hide its closeness to Moscow.
Chinese President Xi Jinping invited Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to Beijing on March 31. According to the news of the Spanish newspaper El Pais, citing government sources, senior officials will discuss a major war between Russia and Ukraine.
The position of Spain and China is different because Beijing is close to Moscow even though it is not officially in a conflict. Observers noted that Sanchez was increasingly talking about peace plans and supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s initiative on the need to liberate entire regions, including Crimea.
According to the authors of the document, the official reason for the trip is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and China.
The newspaper’s interlocutors said, “China has given Sanchez’s visit the status of a state visit, so talks will be held with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and National People’s Congress President Zhao Leji.”
Spain and China to discuss Ukraine
Washington was briefed on Sanchez’s trip to China. The Spanish prime minister said he would convey Ukraine’s position on peace to Xi Jinping.
One of the officials told El Pais, “In the context of an all-out war in Ukraine, interest is primarily political. Sanchez’s trip also has economic goals. In Beijing, he will meet with businessmen who want to invest in Spain.”
The Asian giant wants to avoid EU trade barriers at all costs. The subject of discussion will be a €30 billion contract for the production of around 300 commercial Airbus aircraft.
Xi Jinping last paid an official visit to Spain in 2018.
“The visit of the Spanish prime minister is very important and underlines the importance of Spain in international relations,” Spanish Presidential Affairs Minister Felix Bolaños told the Cadena Ser radio station.
According to him, China plays a key role in the mediation between Russia and Ukraine, and the weight of Spain and Pedro Sanchez in the world is undeniable.
Sanchez will attend the Boao Forum for Asia held in China’s Hainan province on March 30. This is analogous to the World Economic Forum in Davos and complements the Reuters agency.
The Associated Press noted that Spain assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union in July, and Sanchez portrayed his country on the world stage as a loyal NATO ally of Ukraine.
“The relations between China and Spain are developing steadily. The two leaders maintain good relations,” Wang Wenbing, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, quoted the agency.
Recall that the White House feared Beijing would corner Washington with a “peace plan” for Ukraine. China can declare Washington’s destructive role to countries weary of a major war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a meeting with Xi Jinping in Moscow on March 21 that the “peace plan” could be taken as the basis.
Source: Focus
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