On March 9, 1973, Spain and China established official diplomatic relations. caudillo francis Franco recognizes Mao Zedong’s People’s Republic of ChinaAgainst the Republic of China, which in 1949 created the losing side of the civil war in Taiwan. This was a big turnaround, especially for a Chinese Communist Party where Taiwan is still the most sensitive political issue today.
Half a century after the start of relations, China always repeats that it can become Spain’s main friend in the European Union. However, despite the importance of history, there are only a few celebratory events planned, most of them cultural and low-level. The diplomatic sources consulted confirm that it was a voluntary decision, not to hold major commemorative political events on both sides, especially taking into account the sensitive international geopolitical situation. China has been included in the Madrid Strategic Concept since the last NATO summit as a systemic “challenge” by the Allies. Beijing also maintains a calculated ambiguity about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The United States accuses the Asian country of wanting to send weapons, which the Communist Party vehemently denies. Inside, President Xi Jinping firmly holds all power, reaffirming his authority for the third time (something unprecedented) and eliminating dissident currents within the Politburo.
“The order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is as follows: soft and cultural themes for celebrations yes but no hard themes”, says a source who was present at one of the meetings with diplomats from the Ministry responsible for Asia. “There was zero interest and very low turnout in talks with the Chinese embassy, apart from some irrelevant exhibition offers”, reassures another diplomat who has been in a few more meetings. Both sources point to a situation of internal tensions in China (which has experienced unprecedented protests over its zero-covid policy suffocating its economy) and internationally (the US raised its tone after detecting Chinese balloons allegedly spying in the sky).
openly excluded from Spain any activity that has to do with drastic technological changesGiven that Spain has promised to publish a troubling diplomat about the blacklist of high-risk 5G operators, which will eventually include Chinese operator Huawei.
Concerts and talks
When it comes to cultural exchanges, world-class events are also not expected. It will be the main dish commemoration concert on 1 December Predictably at the Teatro Monumental in Madrid, with a repertoire of Chinese and Spanish music performed by the Spanish Radio and Television Orchestra and Chorus, this newspaper learned. One source points to Chinese public television CCTV’s participation in the event.
Casa Asia, which programs socio-cultural events on China every year, organizes some meetings as part of the anniversary: round table To delve deeper into these 50 years of diplomatic relations, symposium about economic opportunities for mutual investment or author Shuang Xuetao. They will try to organize with the Confucius Institute and the Spanish Cervantes Institute. cultural exchange in the main cities of both countries.
Teatro Real, which has no connection with the anniversary, is making its famous premieres this year. Opera “Nixon in China” by American composer John AdamsDescribing President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972 and his meeting with Mao Zedong. Casa Asia will take the opportunity to initiate a colloquium discussion to analyze this trip that initiated the inclusion of communist China in the concert of nations.
Council Spain China
“It is clear that the world is going through a very complex period, geopolitically, in which the relations between different countries, and therefore between Spain and China, are not unrelated,” he told this newspaper. Ramón María Moreno, Secretary General of the Spanish Council of China Foundation. “However, the 50th anniversary of Spanish-Chinese diplomatic relations is a good milestone to evaluate its many positive aspects.”
The Spanish China Council is an organization supported by private organizations, but physically under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and working in coordination with it. At the board meeting on 20 December, attended, among others, by the Spanish ambassador to China, Raphael Dezcallar The focus was on 2023 as the great year of bilateral relations. “Everyone agreed to set their sights on 2023 as a year when the positive aspects of Spanish-Chinese relations will be evaluated,” a note on the website said.
However, for the time being, the Council’s activities are limited. Edited Colloquium on China with the Royal Institute of Elcanoand a meeting in Beijing of former participants of the program of future Chinese leaders is being considered.
President on Nov. Pedro Sánchez meets with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinpingon the sidelines of the G20 leaders’ summit on the Indonesian island of Bali. The Spanish Executive Chairman has asked the Chinese to use their influence to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. In the press release made by the Chinese government, it was emphasized that 2023 is an important date for both countries, precisely because it coincides with half a century of diplomatic relations, which they describe as ‘positive’. “healthy and happy” was marked as “for mutual respect”. “Taking advantage of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Spain is keen to promote the further development of the Spanish-Chinese Comprehensive Strategic Union.”