BEIJING – When King Felipe VI of Spain touched down in Beijing this week, the first Spanish monarch to visit China in 18 years, he did more than exchange pleasantries and attend banquets.
His royal visit to China from November 10-13 marks a subtle but strategic recalibration of Europe’s approach to China at a time when many of the continent’s capitals are rethinking their place in an increasingly multipolar world.
Spain’s outreach comes at a symbolic moment: the 20th anniversary of the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between Madrid and Beijing.
Yet this was not simply a nostalgic nod to past friendship. The visit, accompanied by Queen Letizia and a delegation of business and cultural leaders, carried three clear messages: Spain seeks pragmatic engagement, economic diversification, and renewed cultural diplomacy with the world’s second-largest economy.
The meeting between King Felipe VI of Spain and President Xi Jinping in Beijing on November 12, 2025, was more than ceremonial. It carried multiple layers of significance for Spain, for China, and for the broader Europe–China relationship.
The meeting between King Felipe VI and Xi Jinping is a high-profile marker of shifting global dynamics: Spain signaling a forward-looking, diversified foreign-policy approach; China strengthening strategic partnerships in Europe; and Europe’s Sino-relations becoming more complex and multilayered. More than a handshake, it is a strategic handshake—one laden with trade, diplomacy, symbolism, and implications for the Europe–China axis.
A Pragmatic Partnership With China
Unlike some of its European neighbors, Spain is not caught in the ideological tug-of-war over China. Madrid’s approach is pragmatic, driven by trade, technology, and opportunity rather than confrontation.
China is already Spain’s largest trading partner outside the EU, with bilateral trade surpassing $50 billion in 2024. For Spanish exporters from wine and olive oil to renewable technology, the Chinese market represents growth and resilience in a slowing European economy.
The deals signed in Beijing this week underscore that intent. Agreements on agricultural exports, language exchange, and green industry cooperation may seem modest. Still, they reveal a deliberate Spanish strategy: to build long-term trust and incremental gains rather than grandiose rhetoric.
Royal Diplomacy as Soft Power
Felipe VI’s visit highlights the power of royal diplomacy, a form of statecraft often underestimated in modern geopolitics. As head of state but not of government, the Spanish king carries no partisan baggage. His presence in Beijing projects continuity, civility, and respect, qualities that matter deeply in Chinese political culture.
Queen Letizia’s parallel cultural engagements, from promoting Spanish literature to attending arts events in Chengdu, complemented this message with a softer touch. The combination of economic ambition and cultural humility may well prove more effective than the confrontational posture seen elsewhere in Europe.
Critics will argue that Spain’s China outreach risks diluting its Western commitments. Indeed, Spain remains a loyal member of the EU and NATO, and must manage tensions between its transatlantic obligations and its growing economic interests in Asia. Yet engagement does equal dedicating to balance. Madrid’s strategy appears closer to diversification, expanding its diplomatic portfolio rather than trading one dependency for another.
For Beijing, Spain offers something valuable: a credible European partner with deep linguistic and cultural links to Latin America. For Madrid, China represents both an export opportunity and a reminder that global influence now flows through multiple centers, not just Washington and Brussels.
Royal Diplomacy Strengthening People-to-People Ties
King Felipe VI’s visit once again shows how royal diplomacy can play a unique role in enhancing mutual understanding. As the head of state, the King represents Spain’s unity and long-term vision beyond day-to-day politics. His warm meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing reaffirmed the strong political trust and shared commitment to a more inclusive international order.
Queen Letizia’s active participation in cultural exchanges, including literary and educational events in Chengdu, highlighted another important dimension of bilateral relations — the people-to-people bond.
Cultural diplomacy serves as a bridge that connects societies at a deeper emotional level, enriching the relationship beyond economic or political cooperation. These exchanges remind us that friendship between nations ultimately depends on the understanding between their peoples.
Europe’s China debate has become polarized between confrontation and caution. Spain’s example suggests a middle path principled engagement anchored in transparency, reciprocity, and mutual benefit. Rather than viewing China solely as a rival, Madrid treats it as a complex partner whose cooperation is essential on issues from green energy to climate change.
This royal visit may not transform geopolitics overnight. But it hints at a Europe capable of nuance where national interests coexist with shared European principles. In an age of fragmentation, Spain’s brand of diplomatic pragmatism might just offer a model worth emulating.
The Soft Power Advantage
In an age when foreign policy is often reduced to trade tariffs and defense pacts, Spain’s emphasis on soft power feels refreshingly human. Language, culture, gastronomy, and education — these are tools of influence as potent as any geopolitical lever.
The royal visit showcased this holistic vision: trade deals paired with poetry readings, political dialogue alongside cultural celebration. It is a reminder that diplomacy is not just about interests but about understanding — and that enduring partnerships are built as much on mutual appreciation as on mutual gain.
King Felipe VI’s Beijing trip will not resolve Europe’s China dilemma overnight. But it marks a subtle shift in tone, one that favors balance over binary thinking. Spain is neither naïve about China’s assertiveness nor captive to anti-China alarmism.
In a world where global challenges from climate change to technology governance transcend borders, such pragmatism is not weakness; it is wisdom.
Spain’s royal diplomacy may prove that in the contest between isolation and engagement, the most effective strategy is often the quietest one: a handshake offered not in surrender, but in confidence.
King Felipe VI’s state visit to China was more than a diplomatic event; it was a reaffirmation of shared values — peace, dialogue, and cooperation. Spain’s royal diplomacy has opened a new chapter in China–Europe engagement.
One that emphasizes partnership over polarization and understanding over misunderstanding. In an era of global challenges, China and Spain have shown that mutual respect and practical cooperation can light the way forward — offering a positive example for the world at large.
Author: Ibrahim Khalil Ahasan
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