Spain’s Prime Minister Focuses on Global South in China Visit
Spain’s socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, urged Western nations to “give up their quotas” in international organizations to better support countries in the Global South during his visit to Beijing on Monday.
Currently on a four-day trip to China, Sánchez plans to meet with Xi Jinping and other Communist Party leaders. This marks his fourth visit to the country in four years.
Kicking off the visit, Sánchez commenced his agenda by delivering a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing. He expressed that Spain recognizes China’s efforts to “rebuild its greatness,” suggesting a significant role for China in the future. The university’s vice-president responded positively, acknowledging Sánchez’s dedication to enhancing Spain-China relations.
Throughout his address, Sanchez emphasized that multilateralism is “not dead” but rather “more necessary than ever.” He called on Western countries to reconsider their representation quotas for the sake of global stability and to foster trust with nations in the Global South.
“We must overhaul the multilateral system,” he argued, advocating for a system that is more efficient, transparent, accountable, inclusive, and pluralistic. He believes that for multilateralism to remain effective, it needs to evolve to reflect current power dynamics and world sensitivities.
He further stressed the importance of balanced and mutually beneficial trade relations, insisting that the world should not transition from the imbalances of the 20th century to those of the 21st century.
In reports from Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, Sánchez called for China to play a more significant role in creating a stable multilateral system while urging compliance with international law and seeking resolutions to conflicts in regions such as Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Gaza.
“China has accomplished much, and we acknowledge that, but there’s more to be done,” Sánchez stated.
He also mentioned on social media that Europe, though small in size, holds substantial weight, asserting that its unity is essential for global stability and prosperity, emphasizing that understanding today’s world involves recognizing China’s role.
As the day continues, Sánchez plans to visit the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to receive an honorary degree and will also meet with Lei Jun, the founder of tech company Xiaomi.
On the agenda for Tuesday is a dinner hosted by Xi Jinping in honor of Sánchez and his wife, Begoña Gómez, who was extended a special invitation to accompany the Prime Minister during this visit.
