Donald Trump administration's imposition of sweeping tariffs have shocked the world and pushed nations to reassess their economic partnerships, risking a reversal of decades of global integration.

Against this backdrop, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez paid a visit to Beijing in April, backed by the European Commission. It was his third meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in three years.

The visit—the first by a Western leader to China since the onset of the U.S.' new round of "reciprocal tariffs"—carries messages that China, Spain, and other European countries are seeking cooperation and stability, and safeguarding the consensus on economic globalization.

China appreciates the Spanish Government's emphasis on developing relations with China and its continuous promotion of practical cooperation and personnel exchanges between the two countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on May 7.

"Sánchez is the European leader who has visited China the most, and that demonstrates strong Spain-China ties," Gerardo Pisarello, First Secretary of the Bureau of the Spanish Congress of Deputies and former Deputy Mayor of Barcelona, said during the 2025 China-Spain Mayors' Dialogue convened in Chongqing Municipality on April 25.

The event, a diplomatic follow-up just days after the leaders' summit, focused on reinforcing bonds in cultural, economic and technological sectors. "There is a whole future ahead of us, and I think we are in the best position to promote it," Pisarello emphasized.

Building trust

Under the theme Sharing Wisdom in Governance to Jointly Build Resilient Cities, 70-plus mayors and representatives from China and Spain met in Chongqing, a Chinese megacity of 34 million inhabitants wedged between mountains and famous for its spicy food, neon-lit skyscrapers and frequent fog. They were to exchange ideas and strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as green transition, the digital economy, and innovation in local governance.

The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Cátedra China Foundation, and organized by the Chongqing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

"We live in complex times, marked by instability and uncertainty. Today's geopolitical context demands serenity, mutual respect and openness. Spain and China stand as firm advocates for dialogue, multilateralism and peace," Pisarello, who led the Spanish delegation of 16 mayors and municipal councilors, said.

"The world is being threatened by new forms of unilateralism," Pisarello told Beijing Review, referencing the U.S. "reciprocal tariffs." "In response, China is offering an alternative—the defense of multilateralism, peace and international law. Spain believes in this project."

The "reciprocal tariffs" imposed by the U.S. since President Donald Trump returned to the White House early this year have affected both China and Spain. Trump has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods of up to 145 percent, and Beijing has announced countermeasures with levies of 125 percent on some goods from the U.S.

Trump's broad tariffs on imports from the European Union have been detrimental to Spain. The U.S. implemented a 20-percent tariff on all EU goods, which it later reduced to 10 percent during a 90-day negotiation window. These measures targeted key Spanish exports, including olive oil, wine and industrial machinery. In response, Sánchez announced a $16-billion aid package to mitigate the impact.

Fernando Morales Rodríguez, an economist and editor at the Cátedra China Foundation, called the U.S. approach a mistake. "It is a mistake that leads nowhere—neither to the U.S. economy, nor the Spanish economy, nor the Chinese economy," he told Beijing Review.

Morales Rodríguez called for collective efforts by nations to "end this tariff war as soon as possible so that peoples can grow together and mutually benefit."

"We believe that if the U.S. continues the tariffs against everyone, the rest of the world should seek dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding so that our economies can continue functioning and developing," he added.

Morales Rodríguez stressed this position was reflected in the meeting between Sánchez and Xi, and that close collaboration is the way forward.

Indeed, Spain and China have maintained pragmatic relations. Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1973 and elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2005, the two nations have deepened cooperation in trade, tourism, education and innovation.

President Xi's 2018 visit to Spain and Sánchez's visits to China in 2023 and 2024 all yielded concrete agreements. During Spain's EU Council presidency in the second half of 2023, Madrid promoted stronger EU-China relations—a stance that may now prove pivotal.

Signs of a thaw between China and Europe are emerging. China and the European Parliament have decided to simultaneously and comprehensively lift restrictions on mutual exchanges, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said during a press briefing on May 6. Beijing and Brussels have agreed to look into setting minimum prices of Chinese-made electric vehicles instead of the tariffs imposed by the EU last year.

Both Pisarello and Morales Rodríguez advocated for stronger EU-China relations. "I think one of Spain's roles is to convince Europe that China must be a partner and an ally in advancing this new multilateralism, one that defends peace and shared prosperity among all peoples," Pisarello noted.

Municipal cooperation

Prior to the dialogue, Spanish delegates visited Chongqing's Shiyou and Zhongshutuo communities in Jiangbei District, where China's "grid governance" model left a deep impression on them. The model establishes "15-minute living circles," which integrate services like senior canteens, youth programs and one-stop administrative hubs within a 15-minute radius, bringing convenience and efficiency to the residents.

Alaitz Zabala, a member of the Basque Autonomous Community Parliament, and Amaiur Guindeo, Councilor of Burlada, a municipality in Navarre Province, lauded China's agility in urban planning.

"I saw a huge administrative simplification here, with fast processing. This is surely also the result of a competent, agile and fast public service system," Guindeo told Beijing Review. "And there is a powerful body of civil servants here in China, which makes everything more competent and logically speeds everything up."

While China has witnessed great transformation due to streamlined bureaucracy, "In Spain, our laws are too protective and participatory, which slow down progress," Zabala told Beijing Review.

Morales Rodríguez, a first-time visitor to China, expressed similar views, praising China's structured municipal governance. "Nothing is left to chance here. Urbanization aligns precisely with citizens' needs," he said.

They also identified areas where Spain's expertise could be valuable. Guindeo pointed to Spain's strength in sustainable urban design, citing Barcelona's green infrastructure as a model that has already drawn interest from Chinese cities. Morales Rodríguez added that Spain's focus on community-driven welfare systems, particularly in elderly and childcare services, could provide valuable insights for China as it navigates its own aging population challenges.

During the roundtable discussions of the dialogue, Julián Nieva, Mayor of Manzanares Municipality, highlighted the value of such meetings in strengthening international relations from a municipal perspective. "The difference in size isn't the most important thing, because in terms of friendship and respect, China wants to open up to the world, a place where Spain wants to be, increasingly seeking collaboration, cooperation and understanding between the different towns and cities of both countries," he said.

Marta Montoro, Director of the Cátedra China Foundation, announced plans to expand the dialogue into an annual event, bringing in more cities and sectors. "This goes beyond politics—our goal is for mayors to understand the reality of 21st-century China, one that doesn't frequently appear in the media," she emphasized.

"I think there are many interests in the West that don't want their citizens to know what China has really been able to develop over the last decades. I believe that Spanish visitors to China will gain a very different, but at the same time, very positive view of China compared to what we usually hear in the West," Morales Rodríguez said.

"We must move beyond seeing each other as threats. Collaboration enriches both sides," Guindeo concluded.

(Print Edition Title: Building Bonds)

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson

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