Seminars on international markets
October 10th, 2023
Spanish Exporters and Investors Club, Fundación Consejo España China and Casa Asia hold a round table for the 50th anniversary of Spain-China diplomatic ties
In 1973, Spain and the People’s Republic of China formally established diplomatic relations. Five decades later, ties between the two countries have been consolidated in many areas.
Today’s world is very different from that of 1973, and to commemorate this fiftieth anniversary, in a context of structural changes in the global order, a round table was held at the Espacio Bertelsmann (in Madrid) under the title: “Business in China: past, present and future of economic ties”, which was organized by the Spanish Exporters and Investors Club, the Spain China Council Foundation and Casa Asia.
In the economic field, the trajectory of relations has been marked by China’s explosive growth, especially since the beginning of the century. This has generated a notable imbalance: in 2022, China was the first supplier of goods to Spain, but only its eleventh customer.
In the first seven months of 2023, China sold $26,385 million worth of goods to Spain, but only purchased Spanish products and services for $4,506 million. This asymmetry in trade also extends to the field of investment.
The round table was attended by leading representatives of the Administration and business, and served to analyze the causes of the imbalances mentioned, as well as the trajectory and future prospects of Spanish companies in the world’s second largest economy.
Ramón Gascón, coordinator of the Asia-Pacific working group of the Exporters’ Club, moderated the round table in which the following experts participated as panelists: Francisco J. Riberas, executive chairman of Gestamp and president of the Spain China Council Foundation; Ana Esmeralda Martínez, director general of Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; Manuel Valencia, vice president of Técnicas Reunidas International, was Spain’s ambassador to China (March 2013-November 2017); and Sofía Osborne, president of Osborne, also chair of the Leading Brands of Spain Forum.
Closing remarks were given by Antonio Bonet, president of the Spanish Exporters and Investors Club.
