The Sino-Spanish Economic & Trade Communication Session was successfully held at YANTIAN on March 26, co-hosted by the Shenzhen Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Spain, San Telmo Business School, and YANTIAN.

Openness and Shared Success: Forging a New Bridge for China–Spain Cooperation

As the APEC China 2026 unfolds, Shenzhen is embracing the world with an ever more open and confident outlook. As a vital gateway for the city's foreign trade and a strategic node in global supply chains, YANTIAN continues to broaden its international network. Earlier that day, it successfully hosted the APEC Shenzhen–YANTIAN–Laem Chabang–Sihanoukville New Service SKV/CSX Promotion Event, welcoming a 14-member delegation led by the Consul General of the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Guangzhou, alongside nearly 200 representatives from governments, shipping lines, and import-export and logistics enterprises across China, Thailand, and Cambodia. Building on this momentum, the Sino-Spanish Economic & Trade Communication Session was convened that evening.

With strong support from the Yantian and Pingshan district governments, the event brought together nearly 200 representatives from Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ireland, India, Mexico, Costa Rica, and China. Participants spanned sectors including trade, logistics, supply chain management, and cross-border services. Centred on trade facilitation, green and smart logistics, supply chain integration, and project matchmaking, the event fostered substantive, results-driven cooperation.

🤝Spain is China's fifth-largest trading partner within the EU, while China is Spain's largest trading partner outside the EU and its leading source of imports. Spain's signature products—olive oil, wine, and ham—are widely favoured by Chinese consumers, often described as "a taste of the Mediterranean." Meanwhile, China's high-tech exports—such as electric vehicles, drones, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic modules—have earned strong recognition in the Spanish market for their quality and innovation, embodying "the future at the fingertips."

📈In 2025, bilateral trade between China and Spain approached CNY400 billion, sustaining double-digit year-on-year growth. As a key gateway for China's import and export trade, YANTIAN partners with shipping lines to provide nearly 30 weekly services to and from Europe, including six regular calls at Spanish ports. Through YANTIAN, exports such as machinery and electronic products, furniture, toys, and sporting goods, alongside imports including agricultural products, food, timber, and woven goods, move with high efficiency—reinforcing its role as a vital conduit linking Shenzhen and Spain.

Connecting the World: Shaping a New Future for China–Spain Economic and Trade Cooperation

Lawrence Shum, Managing Director of Hutchison Ports YANTIAN, welcomed the guests and noted that 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the China–Spain comprehensive strategic partnership. During meetings last year with His Majesty King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, President Xi Jinping underscored that "the consumption upgrade of China's population of over 1.4 billion, together with its vast industrial transformation potential, will inject strong momentum into the global economy. China stands ready to work with Spain to leverage complementary strengths, make full use of cooperation mechanisms in trade, economy, and technology, and further unlock potential in areas such as new energy, high-tech manufacturing, and smart cities, so as to deliver more mutually beneficial outcomes." Spanish leaders likewise expressed their willingness to maintain high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation in trade, investment, technological innovation, and green energy. As a key port-of-call in South China for the world's largest container vessels on Europe-bound services, YANTIAN will continue to deliver efficient, reliable, and high-quality services, contributing to the shared prosperity of China–Spain trade and to the stability and resiliense of global industrial and supply chains.

Qi Liling, President of Shenzhen Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Spain, remarked that each of her visits to YANTIAN had been met with warm hospitality. She noted the port's strong growth momentum and vibrant industrial ecosystem reflected the depth and capability of a world-class deep-water hub. Leading an enterprise delegation from eight countries, she expressed hope that the visit would enable participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of YANTIAN's capabilities, service network, and supply chain strengths, thereby laying a solid foundation for deeper cooperation and broader consensus.

Jian Zheng, Deputy Mayor of Yantian District, highlighted that YANTIAN has risen with its port and thrives through its maritime strengths, serving as a vital gateway for China–Spain economic and trade cooperation. As this year marks APEC China Year, this event has provided a practical and efficient platform for business matchmaking between Chinese and Spanish enterprises. He added that YANTIAN will continue to optimise its business environment, enhance international logistics connectivity, and remain committed to providing high-quality services and expansive opportunities for both domestic and international enterprises.

Professor Antonio García de Castro of San Telmo Business School noted that the exchange offered valuable insight into cooperation between YANTIAN and Spanish ports, while also providing a firsthand view of the achievements of China's reform and opening-up over the past four decades. He emphasisd the importance for Spanish entrepreneurs to visit China in person and expressed hope that Spain's government and business community can draw on YANTIAN's experience to advance the development of its three natural ports and deepen cooperation with China.

At the event, the Yantian District Investment Promotion Centre and the Pingshan District Investment Service Bureau presented their respective business environments. YANTIAN also showcased its latest progress in port function upgrades, the expansion of multimodal transport networks, and its green, low-carbon initiatives.

During the session, company representatives outlined their business footprints and collaboration needs, engaging in in-depth and productive exchanges. In a dynamic and highly efficient matchmaking atmosphere, multiple preliminary cooperation agreements were successfully reached. The event provided a high-level platform for seamless connectivity in international import and export trade, opening up new growth frontiers and unlocking fresh opportunities for industry-wide collaboration.

Miquel Jordà, Spain
China's efficiency, pragmatism, and strong execution capabilities left a profound impression. First-hand visits revealed that Chinese enterprises place great emphasis on ecological protection and environmental governance—challenging many long-held overseas perceptions of China's development path. Meanwhile, YANTIAN with its comprehensive infrastructure, plays a critical hub role. It serves not only as a vital gateway enabling Chinese manufacturing to reach global markets, but also as a key entry point for international cargoes, ensuring the smooth, two-way flow of cross-border trade.

Pablo Vargas，Costa Rica
This exchange was highly rewarding, allowing me to connect with numerous potential business partners. The scale of Shenzhen's development is truly remarkable. In my view, YANTIAN is central to the city's success. It builds a vital logistical bridge linking Shenzhen to the world and serves as a powerful engine driving its sustained growth.

The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan calls for building a more diversified and resilient system of international transport corridors, strengthening cross-border infrastructure connectivity, and advancing a more balanced pattern of imports and exports. In this context, the event served as a highly efficient and results-driven platform for enterprises from both countries to connect, further deepening China–Spain cooperation in trade, green and smart logistics, and cross-border supply chains, while injecting renewed momentum into their coordinated participation in the global logistics network.

YANTIAN will continue to expand its global shipping network, strengthening supply chain connectivity worldwide and building a higher-standard international shipping hub. The port will contribute to Shenzhen's drive to become a logistics centre with global influence, help consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's position as a leading international maritime hub, and jointly advance the Greater Bay Area's global competitiveness—all while supporting China's dual carbon goals and promoting the high-quality development of foreign trade.