KING FELIPE AND QUEEN LETIZIA STRENGTHEN SPAIN–CHINA RELATIONS WITH A HISTORIC DAY IN BEIJING

King Felipe and Queen Letizia led a day marked by solemnity, diplomacy, and gestures of closeness during their visit to China. Between ceremonies, official meetings, and a state banquet, the royal couple reinforced the ties between both nations.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia completed an intense day on Wednesday during their first state visit to China, marked by symbolic gestures, an impressive display of protocol, and the strengthening of diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations between the two countries.
The day began in the monumental Tiananmen Square, one of the largest in the world, where the monarchs paid tribute to China’s fallen heroes with a floral offering. The act was part of the official welcome ceremony presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan, held at the Great Hall of the People a symbol of Beijing’s political power.

With military honors, national anthems, and impeccable ceremony, Felipe VI reviewed the troops alongside President Xi, while Queen Letizia and the First Lady observed from the main staircase. The staging, described by local media as “cinematic,” highlighted the scale of the encounter and the importance both nations attach to this visit.

For the occasion, Queen Letizia wore an oriental-inspired coat by Carolina Herrera, in gray with floral embroidery, complemented by pastel pink accessories. Her style was praised as elegant and diplomatic, in tune with the setting and local customs.

Throughout the day, Felipe VI held bilateral meetings with Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. The meetings concluded with the signing of nine agreements aimed at boosting economic, technological, and cultural cooperation.

Meanwhile, Queen Letizia visited, alongside Peng Liyuan, a service center for people with disabilities, regarded as a national model for inclusion. The visit underscored the human component of the royal agenda and the shared interest in promoting more accessible societies.

Earlier, in the city of Chengdu, Felipe VI surprised the audience at the Spain–China Business Forum by delivering part of his speech in Mandarin. The gesture, met with applause, symbolized the monarch’s respect and closeness toward Chinese culture.

The day concluded with a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People, hosted by Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan. The menu featured Peking duck, fried lobster, and a puff pastry shaped like a magnolia the national flower of China. Traditional Chinese pieces alternated with Spanish pasodobles in a musical nod to both cultures.

In his toast, Felipe VI praised China’s millenary history and its role as Spain’s main trading partner outside the European Union. “Let us toast together for China and Spain, and for the ties that continue to nourish our shared future,” he said, ending with “Cheers! 干杯 (kan-péi)!” in Mandarin a gesture warmly received by the audience.

The royal visit to China, the first since King Felipe’s proclamation, will continue with activities focused on cultural exchange and the international projection of bilateral relations.