BARCELONA, Spain – Spanish and Chinese business people and officials are calling on the two countries to take steps to further strengthen trade ties and increase investment.
Last week, more than 100 representatives from Chinese and Spanish companies gathered in Barcelona, along with Chinese Ambassador to Spain Yao Jing and other officials, to explore ways to strengthen business between the two countries.
“Our mission is to help Chinese investors find target companies in Spain, and also help Spanish companies find opportunities and partners in China,” said China Construction Bank. European General Manager Wang Bo told Xinhua during the event.
“Since the opening up (of China) last year, more and more Chinese investors have come to Spain and we have very good connections with them,” he added.
The importance of providing companies with the necessary support to overcome the difficulties of expanding into new markets, whether in China or Spain, was reiterated by Spanish entrepreneurs with experience in operating in China. .
“We have to make it as easy as possible for Chinese companies to come here and make them as welcoming as possible,” said Ramon Ceravalles, CEO of CELO, which has been operating in China for 18 years.
“China is not a place to do business in a hurry, so you have to look at things long-term. You have to have a long-term vision that you believe in, and if you persist, you will eventually succeed.” added the CEO.
In a speech at the beginning of the event, Yao said China wants to attract more foreign trade and urged Spanish companies to increase exports of “star products that are welcomed by Chinese consumers” such as wine, oil and ham. urged.
“We are also aware that many Chinese companies are interested in purchasing large machinery and other equipment and tools manufactured in Spain. We are looking for routes to export new Spanish products to China,” he said. “
One example of efforts to foster cooperation discussed at the event is the Catalan government’s just-launched China Desk in Barcelona, staffed by locally based Chinese nationals and supporting Chinese companies seeking investment. .
“China’s economy has grown significantly over the past 30 years and will undoubtedly continue to grow in the future. That is why we look to China as a strategic partner to promote mutual growth and prosperity for both countries and to exchange technology and knowledge. “We want to do that,” Catalonia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Roger Trento, told Xinhua News Agency.
Participants called for further measures to promote understanding between the two countries as a key element in ensuring a lasting and prosperous business relationship for companies from both countries.
“The Spanish side needs to have more confidence in the Chinese economy and Chinese companies so that more Spanish companies go to China to explore cooperation opportunities, and Chinese companies need to understand more about the local investment environment in Catalonia. “Especially so that more Chinese companies will come to invest here,” Hu Aimin, acting Chinese consul general in Barcelona, told Xinhua.
According to the Spanish Trade Association (ICEX), annual bilateral trade between China and Spain has increased to more than 43 billion euros ($46.7 billion) over the past 50 years, with more imports from China to Spain in the first half of 2023 alone. Exports from Spain to China amounted to 3.7 billion euros.
According to data from the Spain-China Council Foundation, China will invest 95 million euros in Spain in 2022, mainly in the energy and real estate sectors, and in the same period Spain will invest 42 million euros in China, mainly in the pharmaceutical and financial services sectors. I invested. (1 euro = $1.09)