The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, will travel this Tuesday to the Chinese city of Hangzhou, where he will meet with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to review bilateral relations and key international matters. His agenda also includes a meeting with Spanish business representatives and the inauguration of the new international campus of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV).
The visit to Hangzhou takes place in the context of the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Spain and China, which was marked by the visit of the Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez, to the country last April.
Following up on the agreements signed during that visit, the Minister will discuss with Wang Yi the bilateral agenda, in its political and economic dimensions, as well as the main international issues.
Economic hub
Hangzhou is the capital of the Zhejiang Province, the origin of around 70% of Chinese citizens residing in Spain. With its strong focus on innovation, the city has become a leading industrial, technological and academic centre. The visit therefore has a significant economic component, including a meeting with Spanish entrepreneurs based in China.
The Minister will also inaugurate the new international campus of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, the Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute (BVPI), the first Spanish university centre to deliver in-person teaching abroad. The campus is expected to accommodate 2,000 students and will offer undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programmes.
Consolidating Spain’s presence in Asia
The Minister will travel to Hangzhou directly from Cairo, where this Monday he is accompanying President Pedro Sánchez at the signing ceremony marking the end of the war in Gaza, organised by Egypt and attended by the President of the United States and other European and Arab leaders.
For this reason, the visit to Armenia, initially scheduled for this Monday, will be postponed to a later date. This tour aims to strengthen Spain’s presence in Asia.
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