# China–Spain relations

China–Spain relations have existed since the 16th century. Relations between Spain and the People's Republic of China were established in 1973.

## History

Contact between China and Spain first occurred between the Ming dynasty of China and the Spanish-ruled Philippines, in which Spain believed it could take over China.
When the Chinese pirate Limahong attacked Manila in 1574, officials in Fujian Province were willing to let the Spanish establish a trade port on an island south of Xiamen, in return for Limahong's capture. However, the governor of the Philippines did not respond favourably, and the offer came to nothing when Limahong escaped from Manila.
In 1598, Cantonese officials allowed Spain to trade in El Piñal, a port in the Pearl River Delta near Macau. The Portuguese in Macau reacted violently and chased away the Spanish from the area by arms in 1600.
In 1927, a treaty recognising extraterritoriality was signed between the Kingdom of Spain and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist government. The Spanish consul general in Shanghai was also the minister plenipotentiary to China. The Republic of China had diplomatic relations with Spain under Francisco Franco.
Francoist Spain's relations with the People's Republic of China began in 1973.

## Bilateral relations

The volume of trade between the two countries has grown considerably in recent years. Total trade, at US$7.2 billion in 2004, had increased to $22.7 billion by October 2008.
Relations have gradually improved, with official state visits and various exchanges. Spain hosted Expo 2008, with China being a participant, and China hosted Expo 2010 in which Spain had a pavilion. As a consequence, China has become Spain's sixth-largest trading partner. In 2018, during Xi Jinping's state visit to Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez refused to sign a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative.
In June 2019, Spain had extradited 94 Taiwanese nationals to mainland China as part of "Operation Great Wall" instead of Taiwan. Both countries signed an extradition agreement in 2006.
The next month, the UN ambassadors from 22 nations, including Spain, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC condemning China's alleged mistreatment of the Uyghurs as well as of other minority groups and urged the Chinese government to close the Xinjiang internment camps.
The International Department of the Chinese Communist Party maintains relations with major Spanish political parties Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and the People's Party. Vox has maintained a critical stance toward the Chinese government.
In September 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping to enhance bilateral relations, focusing on global conflicts of Ukraine and economic cooperation. The discussions addressed trade disputes, such as EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and Spain's pork exports, while also emphasizing the importance of strengthening business and cultural ties between the two nations.

## Trade

While most cargoes are shipped between China and Europe (including Spain) by sea, there are direct container trains running from Yiwu (Zhejiang Province) to Madrid as well.
During the Coronavirus crisis it was reported in April 2020, that 640,000 Antigen Coronavirus Test Kits which themselves were replacements for previously supplied faulty kits, bought from a Chinese company 'Bioeasy' had been found to be defective, prompting Spain to seek a refund. The Spanish Health Ministry reported that faulty face masks bought from another Chinese company 'Garry Galaxy' had resulted in infections among health workers, requiring the isolation of over a thousand Spanish healthcare personnel.

## Resident diplomatic missions

* China has an embassy in Madrid and a consulate-general in Barcelona.
* Spain has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
* Embassy of China in Madrid
* Consulate-General of China in Barcelona