Spanish business leaders highlight the key role of the Spain-China Council in Beijing

 

The event, which took place on the final day of the royal visit, was closed by His Majesty King Felipe VI , who shared the stage with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing . Also present were Spain's Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo , and China's Vice Minister of Commerce, Sheng Qiuping , as well as a prominent business delegation, headed by Antonio Garamendi , president of the Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations (CEOE).

 

Antonio Garamendi emphasized the need for close collaboration: "At CEOE, we firmly believe that the private sector must play a leading role , working hand in hand with public administrations to foster a stable, transparent and predictable business climate."

 

The president of the Spanish employers' association emphasized the importance of China, not only as a market, but as the country with which Spain has the largest trade exchanges after the EU. "There are 400 very important companies from all sectors permanently established in China," Garamendi highlighted, adding that the meeting serves to "demonstrate that the business world is working, that Brand Spain continues to thrive ." He also expressed his gratitude for the "continued support of the King and the Crown," describing them as "the best ambassadors ."

 

Opportunities in a Technological and Green Giant

 

The participating business leaders agreed that the CAE is an essential forum for dialogue and collaboration. They praised China as a major industrial power and technological hub , as well as a global leader in the green transition , urging continued investment in technology and innovation.

 

The Asian country, with its enormous potential for consumer goods, represents a market full of opportunities, especially in light of the new Five-Year Plan 2026-2030 . Furthermore, opportunities for collaboration were identified in third-party markets , where Spanish companies can support Chinese companies in their internationalization process.

 

Conclusions: Strategic Complementarity

 

Francisco José Riberas , co-chair of the CAE and CEO of Gestamp, presented the conclusions alongside his Chinese counterpart, Liao Lin. Riberas asserted that "Spain and China are complementary economies in many respects ," which allows for effective collaboration. "We have the opportunity to combine the technological leadership and global network of Spanish companies with the industrial scale and investment capacity of Chinese companies ," he stated.

 

For his part, Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing emphasized that "China cherishes a traditional friendship with Spain and is willing to work on a comprehensive strategic partnership ." The high-ranking Chinese official concluded that "unity is strength: the Council is the best tool for deepening cooperation and development between our two countries."

 

The Spain-China Business Advisory Council was established in 2018 during President Xi Jinping's state visit to Spain.