Both China and Spain are positive supporters of multilateralism and open cooperation: Spokesman

Both China and Spain are positive supporters of multilateralism and open cooperation. It is important for the two sides to uphold free trade and steady global economic order, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

Lin made the remarks in response to a media query about Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's visit from April 10 to 11, during which Sánchez stressed that Spain and the EU support free trade and stand ready to work with China to address global challenges, and that they are willing to join hands with China in coping with global challenges.

"This is Prime Minister Sánchez’s third visit to China within three years. The visit is a great success and demonstrates the firm willingness and determination of China and Spain to further grow the bilateral ties," Lin said.

During the visit, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Sánchez and Premier Li Qiang had talks with him. Leaders of the two countries had friendly and in-depth exchanges of views. The two sides jointly issued the Action Plan for Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and proposed to build a more strategically resilient and dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership, to better serve the well-being of both peoples, inject impetus into the China-EU relations, and make greater contributions to world peace, stability, and development, Lin said.

Leaders of the two countries had in-depth and strategic communication on the growth of bilateral relations. They agreed to continue to respect and support each other. Spain reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China principle. They stressed the importance to leverage their complementarity in cooperation, strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and other traditional areas, and tap the potential in emerging areas like new energy, artificial intelligence and digital economy. They underscored the need to explore the rich historical heritage of the two ancient civilizations, give a stronger boost to cooperation in such areas as culture, education, youth exchange and tourism, and carry forward the deep bond between the two peoples fostered through the Olympics and panda cooperation, Lin continued.

They also exchanged views on China-EU relations, and international and regional issues of mutual interest. They stressed the need to boost the steady development of China-EU relations, and stay committed as each other’s partner for mutually beneficial cooperation. Both China and Spain are positive supporters of multilateralism and open cooperation. It is important for the two sides to uphold free trade and steady global economic order, he noted.

"China stands ready to work with the international community, including Spain, to firmly stand on the right side of history, be a firm defender of multilateralism, international order and rules, firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, jointly pursue openness and cooperation, defend the common interests of the international community and provide more confidence and driving force for world development and prosperity," he said.

Both China and Spain are positive supporters of multilateralism and open cooperation: Spokesman

Chinese stock markets have wrapped up a buoyant first week of 2026, with the Shanghai Composite up close to 3 percent since Monday, hitting a decade high, according to China Global Television Network's financial market analyst Timothy Pope on Friday.

Chinese stocks closed higher on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.92 percent to 4,120.43 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.15 percent higher at 14,120.15 points.

"The markets have wrapped up a very buoyant first week of the year, with the Shanghai Composite up close to 3 percent since Monday, and 0.9 percent today alone, taking it to a fresh decade high. I feel like I've already used those words a lot this week. The Shenzhen Component added almost 1.2 percent today, also had a very good day. Today the market got some welcome news in the latest inflation data, showing consumer prices rose to a three year high in December. The CPI was up 0.8 percent with particularly big jumps in the price of foods, so fresh vegetables and beef in particular, that's according to the National Bureau of Statistics, but both signs of easing consumer deflationary pressure, was definitely welcomed by the market, as was signs in the producer price index, that was responding to the governments campaign against involution, is starting ease pressures there," said the analyst.

"But it has been pointed out by market analysts that investors are still favoring non-consumer facing sectors when it comes to equities at the moment, so some of that is coincidental, some of it's not. Investors are still chasing metals stocks, in particular, gold miners still riding high on Friday despite a drop in the price of spot gold. But in China we have actually seen the gold bullion trading at a huge premium this week, more than 20 dollars above the global spot price this week, with interest in bullion only growing in the new year. And that's been reflected in equities. But most sectors trading higher today, we saw the big exception being financial stocks, so there was some profit taking on the big banks and insurers after some gains earlier in the week," he said.

China stock markets wrap up buoyant first week of 2026: CGTN market analyst