Spain is fostering closer ties with China, a development that has caused unease among several of its European partners. This week, Shanghai became the first Asian metropolis to be the city of honour at Barcelona's La Merce cultural festival, with Shanghai Vice Mayor Lu Shan attending the opening ceremony.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has visited Chinese President Xi Jinping four times in as many years and has encouraged the EU to improve relations with China since Donald Trump's re-election two years ago. This stance has been met with disapproval from some European partners who consider Beijing a strategic rival and potential geopolitical threat.
Chinese investment in Spain has doubled over the past year, according to Victor Cortizo, a lawyer and academic specialising in Sino-Spanish relations. This surge is particularly evident in new battery gigafactories and car plants. Chery Automobile, a major Chinese car manufacturer, established its first European manufacturing hub in Spain two years ago, reviving the Ebro brand.
Spain's Economy Ministry reports that while the US remains Spain's largest foreign investor, net US investment was down by approximately €1bn. A Pew Research Center poll published this summer indicated that 54% of Spaniards hold a favourable opinion of China, compared to 30% for the US.