BEIJING, April 14, 2026 – In a high-profile diplomatic meeting with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for strengthened bilateral cooperation between China and Spain to push back against a global retreat toward the coercive “law of the jungle” that threatens international order.
Sanchez is in Beijing for an official working visit, marking the latest high-level exchange between the two nations aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic ties amid shifting global dynamics. During the talks, Xi highlighted that the contemporary international system is facing unprecedented instability, with a growing confrontation between two competing approaches to global governance: one rooted in the rule of law, and another that prioritizes the brute “rule of power” favored by larger nations seeking unilateral advantage.
Against this backdrop, Xi urged both China and Spain to stand together in upholding the principles of genuine multilateralism, an approach that centers equal participation from all nations regardless of size, rather than the hegemonic order that allows stronger powers to dictate terms to smaller states. The call aligns with China’s long-standing diplomatic position of advocating for a multipolar global order and rejecting unilateralism, power politics, and the aggressive expansion of influence that harkens back to the “law of the jungle” where might makes right.
The meeting comes as many European and Asian nations face growing pressure to align with competing global blocs, making bilateral cooperation between major economies like China and Spain a critical factor for maintaining regional and global stability. Both sides are expected to continue discussions across trade, climate action, cultural exchange and other areas in the coming days of Sanchez’s visit, with a shared focus on preserving a rules-based international system that benefits all nations.