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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (left) and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre File photos: IC

Against the backdrop of China-EU trade frictions, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday started his China visit, and will be followed by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who will start visit on Monday. 

Their visits "reflected a consensus among European countries to stabilize China relations," Chinese observers said, expressing the hope that such in-depth communication can encourage European countries to adopt a more balanced and comprehensive view of bilateral trade relations and avoid a tariff decision that could cause loss to both sides.     

In addition to meetings with Chinese leaders in Beijing, both European prime ministers will make stop in Shanghai, one of China's robust economic engines, to engage with business communities and attend events about cultural and people-to-people exchanges, according to news reports and information obtained by the Global Times.  

Sanchez, after presiding the Spain-China Forum and participating in the China-Spain Business Advisory Council Meeting, will attend in Shanghai a bilateral business meeting organized by Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations and the opening of the Cervantes Institute in Shanghai, digital newspaper Diplomat in Spain reported. 

According to a statement sent to the Global Times by Norwegian Consulate General Shanghai, Prime Minister Støre will attend an event organized by the Norwegian Seafood Council and attend event at Fudan University. A special arrangement would be his attendance to the christening ceremony of a Norwegian company-owned ship built at a shipyard near Shanghai in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu Province. 

Fifty-five ships owned by Norwegian shipowners are currently under construction in China, out of 124 globally, per the statement. 

The two European leaders' schedules are consistent with a recent trend of visits by foreign dignitaries who make stops outside the political heartland of Beijing and have a diversified slate of activities. 

While high-level meetings in Beijing are expected to enhance political mutual trust, engagement with business communities demonstrates the great importance they attach to trade and economic cooperation with China, Zhao Junjie, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of European Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

Cultural events suggest a diversification of bilateral interaction channels between China and the EU members, Zhao said.    

Key agenda 

Spain's Sanchez will stay until Wednesday and analysts believe in addition to China-Spain bilateral topics, the China-EU tariff dispute is on his mind. 

Spain, as Europe's second-largest electric vehicle (EV) exporter and the world's ninth-largest automaker, supported the EU's provisional tariffs on Chinese EV imports, media reported. The European Commission is set to make a final decision on tariffs in November. 

At the request of the domestic industry in line with WTO rules, China is conducting an anti-dumping probe into EU pork and pig by-products. The probe is expected to end before June 17, 2025, but may be extended for half a year under special circumstances. 

In 2023, China accounted for about 20 percent of Spain's total pork export by volume and 13.7 percent by value, Reuters reported in June citing Spain's industry association.  

Despite some disputes, Zhao pointed to the great potential of cooperation in industrial manufacturing, as well as culture and tourism.   

It is important that China and Spain can have constructive communication on trade issues, and make clear the notion to the EU that trade frictions in a few areas cannot represent the big picture and should not be hurdle to bilateral relations, Zhao said.

Norwegian Prime Minister Støre, in the Consulate statement, said he looks forward to traveling to China with the wish to strengthen Norway-China cooperation on important global issues, such as climate and the green shift. Geopolitical issues and topics where Norway and China have different views will also be discussed. 

While seafood exports, shipbuilding and maritime industries are particularly mentioned by the Norwegian side as concrete areas of cooperation, Zhao underscored Norway's tradition of strategic insight and pragmatic attitude in developing relations with China. 

Norway is one of the first Western countries to recognize New China. This year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Norway diplomatic ties, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Norway's cooperation with China in various fields will not only facilitate Europe's green transition and better response to climate change, but can also encourage more EU member states to follow suite in their perceptions and policies toward China, Zhao said. 

Facing uncertainty in the US' internal politics and its implication on foreign policy, the EU should carefully think of its own future, analysts said. 

China commended EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell's recent positive remarks that China-EU differences in many issues "should not push us into a systematic confrontation," according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on September 2. Borrell stressed that as China and the US are competing with each other, the EU must bear in mind its own interest and act in its own way. The two sides should be characterized rightly as partners, not rivals. Cooperation, rather than competition, should be the defining feature of the relationship, Mao said.  

It is hoped that the two European leaders will understand China's sincerity and stance better through their visits, and carry the friendly message back to Europe, encouraging more countries in the EU to prevent a decision that would be harmful to both sides from being made, Zhao said.