A China-Europe freight train, loaded with 110 standard containers of export goods including daily necessities, auto parts, and machinery equipment, departs from the Yiwu West Railway Station in east China’s Zhejiang Province, bound for Madrid, Spain, on November 18, 2024. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Spain. Over these two decades, this relationship has matured into a model of mutual respect, strategic foresight, and vibrant cooperation, serving as a cornerstone for stability and growth in both nations and offering a reference for productive China-EU engagement. 

Despite a complex and ever-changing global landscape, China and Spain have consistently prioritized dialogue over discord, and collaboration over confrontation. This steadfast commitment has yielded tangible benefits. China is Spain’s largest trading partner outside the EU, while Spain ranks as China’s fifth-largest trading partner within the EU, with bilateral trade surpassing US $50 billion in 2024. 

From Yiwu-Madrid China-Europe Railway Express, to thriving joint ventures in electric vehicles and renewable energy, the partnership drives innovation and creates jobs, proving that economic cooperation is a powerful engine for shared prosperity. 

Beyond commerce, the bonds between the peoples grow stronger through dynamic cultural and educational exchanges. The allure of Spanish ham and wine in the Chinese market is matched by the growing fascination with Chinese language and culture in Spain. This people-to-people connection, fostered by streamlined visa policies, is the bedrock of lasting understanding and friendship. 

As China and the EU commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations, the China-Spain partership demonstrates the profound benefits of strategic autonomy, mutual respect, and a firm commitment to multilateralism and free trade – principles ever more vital in countering emerging global challenges. 

This issue’s Special Report celebrates this remarkable journey. Through the insights of leaders, thinkers, and practitioners, we explore the past, present, and immense future potential of a partnership built to last, offering stability and vitality for a world in flux.