China–Spain relations

China–Spain relations

China
Spain
Chinese embassy in Madrid, Spain.

China–Spain relations were established in 1973.[1]

History

Contact between China and Spain first occurred between Ming dynasty China and the Spanish ruled Philippines.

Spain fantasized about taking over China.[2][3][4]

The Qing dynasty and Spain had diplomatic relations.

The Republic of China had diplomatic relations with Spain under Franco.[5]

Sino-Spanish relations began in 1973 after both countries were still reeling from the aftermath of civil wars.[1]

Relations have gradually improved with official state visits between the two countries and various exchanges.[6] Spain hosted Expo 2008 which China was a participant at, and China then hosted Expo 2010, where Spain had a pavilion.

Bilateral relations

The volume of trade between the two countries has grown considerably in recent years. Total trade stood at $7.2 billion USD in 2004, and had increased to $22.7 billion by October 2008.[1]

As a consequence, China has become Spain's sixth largest trading partner.[1]

Recently, Spain held the rotating EU presidency from Jan 1 to June 30, 2010, and indicated they would support a lift in the EU Arms embargo to boost two-way trade because in 2008, China's exports to the EU were 248 billion euros ($357 billion), but imports were only 78 billion euros.[7] This could improve trade between the EU and China by allowing China to import higher technology goods for which the Europeans are known.[7]

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.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 China-Spain relations see steady growth
  2. ↑ Eugenio Menegon (2009). Ancestors, Virgins, & Friars: Christianity as a Local Religion in Late Imperial China. Harvard University Press. pp. 11–. ISBN 978-0-674-03596-6.
  3. ↑ Shirley Fish (18 May 2011). The Manila-Acapulco Galleons : The Treasure Ships of the Pacific: With an Annotated List of the Transpacific Galleons 1565-1815. AuthorHouse. pp. 96–. ISBN 978-1-4567-7543-8.
  4. ↑ http://www.samuelhawley.com/imjinarticle3.html
  5. ↑ Franco Wishes Pres. Chiang Success, Taiwan Today, December 19, 1965
  6. ↑ people.com.cn, June 10, 2008, Spain, China pledge to deepen relations
  7. 1 2 Zhang Jin, 2010-01-21, (China Daily), Spain could ask EU to lift arms ban on China
  8. ↑ Shepard, Wade (2016-01-28), "Why The China-Europe 'Silk Road' Rail Network Is Growing Fast", Forbes
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