Spanish public expects PM's China visit to boost bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors

The Spanish people have pinned high hopes on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's upcoming visit to China, hoping that the visit will result in stronger cooperation in trade, renewable energy and global governance as the two countries look to deepen ties amid a complex international landscape.

The visit, scheduled for April 11 to 15, is Sanchez's fourth visit to China in four years. It follows high-level exchanges between the two countries last year, including visits by the Spanish King and the prime minister. It is widely viewed as a key moment to consolidate bilateral relations and strengthen communication between China and Europe.

In Madrid, residents expressed hope for closer ties.

"I think strengthening cooperation in science, technology and trade is the most important thing for both Spain and China," said Manuel, a local resident.

"I hope more Chinese companies will do business in Spain. Many Chinese firms are strong and active in advanced sectors like renewable energy, where I work. This would bring more business opportunities," said another resident Patricia.

China is a key partner for Spain within the European Union. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both nations, bilateral relations have maintained a high level of development, with solid progress in various fields that has tangibly benefited the people of both countries.

Spanish international relations expert Juan Arguello noted that amid current global energy price volatility and rising geopolitical uncertainty, Spain is seeking more diverse and pragmatic foreign cooperation.

"This visit is of great importance, and the timing is critical, especially with international energy prices continuing to rise. Spain imports a large amount of technology products from China, including batteries. Sanchez is also looking to accelerate the energy transition and open up new markets by deepening ties with China," he said.

Spanish public expects PM's China visit to boost bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors

Spanish public expects PM's China visit to boost bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors

Spanish public expects PM's China visit to boost bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors

The Shanghai Futures Exchange on Thursday officially listed options contracts for hot-rolled coil, stainless steel, and low-sulfur fuel oil upon approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

On their debut day, the three new commodity options saw a total of 236 contracts listed for trading. This included 48 contracts for hot-rolled coil options, 50 for stainless steel options, and 138 for low-sulfur fuel oil options.

China is the world's largest consumer of hot-rolled coil and stainless steel, as well as a major consumption market for low-sulfur fuel oil in the Asia-Pacific region.

The introduction of these commodity options will provide related enterprises with a broader array of tools and strategies to manage risks and ensure steady operations, according to analysts.

"China's futures and options product system has been further enriched, now offering comprehensive coverage across the major sectors of non-ferrous metals, ferrous metals, precious metals, and energy and chemicals. This enables investors to combine futures and options to separately manage directional price risks and price volatility risks, while allowing enterprises to manage the price risks they face with greater precision," said Huang Wei, director of the futures and derivatives department at the Shanghai Futures Exchange.

Shanghai Futures Exchange launches trading for hot-rolled coil, stainless steel, low-sulfur fuel oil