Spanish prime minister visits China during dispute over electric vehicles

BEIJING — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials Monday during his second trip to China in a year and a half that comes during a spat over electric cars.

The two leaders both made statements in favor of free trade and promotion of cultural exchanges and tourism, according to state broadcaster CCTV, but did not announce any specifics in the ongoing electric vehicles dispute.

“We hope that Spain will continue to provide a fair, equitable, safe and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies to invest and do business in,” Xi said, according to CCTV.

Sanchez said, “Spain supports the principles of free trade and open markets and does not support a trade war,” according to CCTV.

Trade is one of the thorniest issues between China and Spain. Spain was among the EU members that expressed support earlier this year for a 36.7% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. The Chinese government responded by launching an investigation into imports of EU pork.

EU exports of pork products to China hit a peak of 7.4 billion euros ($7.9 billion) in 2020 when Beijing had to turn abroad to satisfy domestic demand after its pig farms were decimated by a swine disease. EU pork exports to China have dropped since then, hitting 2.5 billion euros ($2.6 billion) last year. Almost half of that total came from Spain.

The tension over pork has not stopped Spain from welcoming the plans of Chinese carmaker Chery to open a plant for electric vehicles in Barcelona.

Xi and Sánchez met at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guest House.

The center-left Socialist leader also attended a business forum in Beijing for Spanish and Chinese companies before traveling to Shanghai later Monday. On Tuesday he is attending more business events and the inauguration of a Cervantes Institute, a center that promotes Spanish language and culture.

Prior to holding talks and dining with Xi, Sánchez held talks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and the head of the ceremonial legislature, Zhao Leji. Sánchez arrived late Sunday and departs Wednesday.

Sánchez visited China in March 2023 when Spain held the rotating European Union presidency.

___

Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Madrid contributed to this report.