BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China and Spain should strengthen cooperation in multiple fields and encourage exchanges in various areas, so as to bring about more outcomes in the comprehensive strategic partnership and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is on an official visit to China.

HIGH IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO TIES

Xi noted that despite the changing and turbulent international landscape, China-Spain relations have developed steadily, forging a relationship with strategic resolve. An important experience of this lies in the ability to make the right decisions based on common interests.

Speaking of his four visits to China in four years, Sanchez said they demonstrate the high importance both sides attach to Spain-China relations.

"Diplomatic relations between the two countries are not improvised. They are the result of many years of work," said Jordi Bacaria, expert in international relations and professor emeritus at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, in a recent interview with Xinhua, adding that Spain's engagement with China has been built gradually and at the highest institutional level.

In Tuesday's meeting, Xi said China and Spain should always prioritize the development of bilateral relations in their respective foreign policies and support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Spain firmly adheres to the one-China principle, highly values China's status as a major country, and is deeply committed to developing a Spain-China partnership with strategic resolve, Sanchez told Xi.

ENHANCED COOPERATION

China has firm resolve in advancing Chinese modernization and the broad-mindedness to share development opportunities with the world through high-standard opening up, said Xi, adding that China will inject confidence and momentum into global economic growth through its own development.

China and Spain have strong economic and trade complementarity. China is Spain's largest trading partner outside the European Union (EU), and Spain is an important partner for China within the bloc. According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, bilateral goods trade exceeded 55 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, growing 9.8 percent year on year.

Xi said that the two sides should seize opportunities, jointly pursue innovation-driven development, strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, new energy, and smart economy, and encourage exchanges in culture, education, scientific research, and sports.

For his part, Sanchez said Spain hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in trade, investment, new energy, and other sectors, as well as to enhance people-to-people exchanges.

UPHOLDING TRUE MULTILATERALISM

Noting that today's turbulent world faces the struggle between right and might, Xi called on both China and Spain, countries that value principle and justice, to strengthen communication, consolidate mutual trust, and work closely together to reject any backslide into the law of the jungle, and jointly uphold true multilateralism.

He said both countries should safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and foster the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Sanchez said that faced with a complex and challenging international situation and multiple recurring conflicts and disputes, only by adhering to multilateralism and fostering a multipolar world can lasting peace be achieved for humanity.

Spain actively supports the four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi and stands ready to maintain close communication and coordination with China to jointly address challenges related to international geopolitics, trade protectionism, and climate change, while upholding international law and multilateralism, Sanchez said.

Spain opposes a new Cold War and the attempt to decouple and sever supply chains, and supports enhanced communication, understanding and cooperation between Europe and China, Sanchez said, adding that the sound development of EU-China relations serves the common interests of both sides and contributes to world peace and stability.  ■