旅游等产业快速复苏 中西经贸走深走实 西班牙经济展现活力与韧性（国际视点）
今年上半年，在欧洲主要经济体普遍面临增长压力的背景下，西班牙经济展现出活力与韧性。一季度，西班牙国内生产总值（GDP）同比增长达2.8%，高于欧元区平均水平。进入二季度，西班牙经济增长势头持续巩固，实现GDP环比增长0.7%，同比增长2.7%，双双超出市场预期，成为上半年欧元区经济表现最亮眼的国家之一。面对外部环境的不确定性与内部发展挑战，西班牙与中国在经贸、能源、旅游等领域的合作不断走深走实，取得丰硕成果。
传统产业筑牢增长根基
西班牙2024年GDP增速达3.2%，领先欧洲主要经济体，人均国内生产总值达到约3.5万美元。西班牙金融分析师协会预测，2025年西班牙经济将延续韧性，GDP增长率预计维持在2%至3%区间。
从产业结构来看，西班牙第三产业占比约七成，发挥着经济支柱作用，其中旅游业的快速复苏成为拉动增长的引擎。今年前8个月，西班牙接待国际游客超6680万人次，较去年同期增长近3.9%，其中8月单月接待国际旅客突破1130万人次，全年有望突破1亿人次。西班牙旅游业的繁荣，一方面得益于通胀压力缓解与欧洲央行降息政策，为旅游市场回暖创造了条件；另一方面，亚洲游客数量增长显著，尤其是中国游客增长，为西班牙旅游业注入动力。根据西班牙国家旅游局的数据，今年1—7月，中国游客数量44.4万人次，同比增长11.9%，较2019年同期增长16.8%，成为增长最快的客源国之一。
农业与食品加工业同样为西班牙经济增长作出贡献。西班牙素有“欧洲菜篮子”之称，不仅是欧盟第四大农产品生产国，更是欧盟第一大、全球第三大果蔬出口国，其橄榄油产量与葡萄种植面积均居世界首位，同时也是全球最重要的葡萄酒生产国之一。当前，西班牙橄榄油、葡萄酒、海产品等传统优势出口商品持续保持稳定增长。据西班牙果蔬生产商协会近日发布的数据，今年上半年西班牙新鲜水果和蔬菜出口总值显著提升，其中欧盟市场占总出口量的84%，出口量约557万吨。
中国市场在西班牙农产品出口中的重要性日益凸显。今年一季度，西班牙对华农产品出口季度增长24.2%。4月，西班牙首相桑切斯访华期间，中西双方就进一步扩大农产品贸易往来达成共识。西班牙智库“知华讲堂”撰文指出，随着中国消费者对地中海饮食与健康食品的需求持续上升，西中农业领域合作潜力将进一步释放。
结构转型培育发展动能
在巩固传统优势产业的同时，西班牙正积极推进经济结构转型，特别是绿色转型与数字化转型的加速推进，让经济增长的新动能不断积聚。
近年来，西班牙积极推进能源转型。借助欧盟复苏基金支持，西班牙政府明确计划到2030年将可再生能源占总能源消费的比例提升至42%。今年上半年，西班牙风能与光伏新增装机容量均突破500万千瓦，位居欧洲清洁能源发展前列。与此同时，巴斯克地区、安达卢西亚自治区陆续启动氢能试点项目，推动清洁能源产业链逐步成形。西班牙能源巨头伊维尔德罗拉公司与多家国际企业展开深度合作，计划未来5年投资数十亿欧元，建设更多绿色电力设施。可再生能源相关项目的推进，不仅为西班牙经济增添绿色活力，也为就业与投资提供稳定支撑。
数字化转型是西班牙培育新动能的另一重要抓手。根据“西班牙数字2026”战略，政府承诺投入200亿欧元，推动全国范围的5G网络覆盖与数据中心建设。目前，西班牙已有超过70%的中小企业获得数字化转型补贴，用于提升电子商务运营能力、推动云计算与人工智能技术应用。在北部“欧洲智慧城市的窗口”桑坦德市，街头公交车普遍配备智能调度系统，乘客通过手机应用即可实时查询车辆到站时间；在巴塞罗那智慧城市示范区，街道灯光能根据人流、车流自动调节亮度，垃圾桶安装了智能传感器，可在接近满载时提醒环卫工人清运。这些细微之处的变化，让民众切实感受到数字化转型带来的便利与效率提升。
此外，马德里的多个创新园区已成为金融科技与生物医药产业的新兴集群，政府设立专项基金，鼓励大学、科研机构与企业开展产学研合作，加速科研成果转化。近年来，西班牙初创企业融资额保持两位数增长，彰显经济创新发展的潜力。
中西合作实现互利共赢
尽管当前西班牙经济整体呈现稳步发展态势，但仍面临不少内外部挑战：外部层面，全球贸易保护主义抬头、地缘冲突加剧、能源与大宗商品价格波动，给西班牙出口贸易与产业链安全带来不确定性，欧美货币政策分化也可能对金融市场稳定产生冲击。内部层面，西班牙服务业占GDP比重约70%，制造业占比不足20%，产业结构有待优化。同时，劳动力老龄化趋势明显、公共债务规模较大、财政可持续性承压等问题，也制约着经济长期健康发展。
在此背景下，中西务实合作的战略意义愈发凸显。近年来，两国双边经贸关系持续深化。根据中国海关总署统计，2024年中西双边贸易额达501亿美元，同比增长3.2%。今年1—8月，中西双边贸易额突破365.85亿美元，同比增长10.1%，中国稳居西班牙欧盟外第一大贸易伙伴。贸易往来中，西班牙葡萄酒、橄榄油、猪肉制品等优质农产品在中国市场广受青睐，中国的机电产品、新能源设备则凭借技术优势不断提升在西班牙市场的份额，成为西班牙推进绿色转型的重要助力。
在新能源领域，中国企业积极参与西班牙光伏、风电项目建设，提供技术支持、融资服务等；西班牙汽车制造商与中国合作伙伴携手推进电动化、智能化技术研发，在新能源汽车电池供应链构建、整车设计等领域取得突破性进展；中资电池企业在西班牙设立生产基地，既满足了当地电动车市场需求，又带动了就业与上下游产业发展，实现了互利共赢。
西班牙“知华讲堂”副主席兼总干事玛尔塔·蒙特罗表示，西中多层次合作给西班牙经济带来实实在在的利益：中国庞大的市场需求为西班牙农业、食品工业与高端消费品出口提供了广阔空间，中国领先的新能源技术与完整的产业链能力，为西班牙能源转型与工业升级提供助力。两国合作不仅实现了互利共赢，更对稳定欧中经贸关系、推动全球经济复苏发挥积极作用。
“中国是未来不可或缺的战略合作伙伴。”西班牙经济、贸易和企业部长卡洛斯·库尔波强调，包括西班牙在内的欧洲国家与中国开展合作，对于双方和全球发展都至关重要。
今年上半年，在欧洲主要经济体普遍面临增长压力的背景下，西班牙经济展现出活力与韧性。一季度，西班牙国内生产总值（GDP）同比增长达2.8%，高于欧元区平均水平。进入二季度，西班牙经济增长势头持续巩固，实现GDP环比增长0.7%，同比增长2.7%，双双超出市场预期，成为上半年欧元区经济表现最亮眼的国家之一。面对外部环境的不确定性与内部发展挑战，西班牙与中国在经贸、能源、旅游等领域的合作不断走深走实，取得丰硕成果。
传统产业筑牢增长根基
西班牙2024年GDP增速达3.2%，领先欧洲主要经济体，人均国内生产总值达到约3.5万美元。西班牙金融分析师协会预测，2025年西班牙经济将延续韧性，GDP增长率预计维持在2%至3%区间。
从产业结构来看，西班牙第三产业占比约七成，发挥着经济支柱作用，其中旅游业的快速复苏成为拉动增长的引擎。今年前8个月，西班牙接待国际游客超6680万人次，较去年同期增长近3.9%，其中8月单月接待国际旅客突破1130万人次，全年有望突破1亿人次。西班牙旅游业的繁荣，一方面得益于通胀压力缓解与欧洲央行降息政策，为旅游市场回暖创造了条件；另一方面，亚洲游客数量增长显著，尤其是中国游客增长，为西班牙旅游业注入动力。根据西班牙国家旅游局的数据，今年1—7月，中国游客数量44.4万人次，同比增长11.9%，较2019年同期增长16.8%，成为增长最快的客源国之一。
农业与食品加工业同样为西班牙经济增长作出贡献。西班牙素有“欧洲菜篮子”之称，不仅是欧盟第四大农产品生产国，更是欧盟第一大、全球第三大果蔬出口国，其橄榄油产量与葡萄种植面积均居世界首位，同时也是全球最重要的葡萄酒生产国之一。当前，西班牙橄榄油、葡萄酒、海产品等传统优势出口商品持续保持稳定增长。据西班牙果蔬生产商协会近日发布的数据，今年上半年西班牙新鲜水果和蔬菜出口总值显著提升，其中欧盟市场占总出口量的84%，出口量约557万吨。
中国市场在西班牙农产品出口中的重要性日益凸显。今年一季度，西班牙对华农产品出口季度增长24.2%。4月，西班牙首相桑切斯访华期间，中西双方就进一步扩大农产品贸易往来达成共识。西班牙智库“知华讲堂”撰文指出，随着中国消费者对地中海饮食与健康食品的需求持续上升，西中农业领域合作潜力将进一步释放。
结构转型培育发展动能
在巩固传统优势产业的同时，西班牙正积极推进经济结构转型，特别是绿色转型与数字化转型的加速推进，让经济增长的新动能不断积聚。
近年来，西班牙积极推进能源转型。借助欧盟复苏基金支持，西班牙政府明确计划到2030年将可再生能源占总能源消费的比例提升至42%。今年上半年，西班牙风能与光伏新增装机容量均突破500万千瓦，位居欧洲清洁能源发展前列。与此同时，巴斯克地区、安达卢西亚自治区陆续启动氢能试点项目，推动清洁能源产业链逐步成形。西班牙能源巨头伊维尔德罗拉公司与多家国际企业展开深度合作，计划未来5年投资数十亿欧元，建设更多绿色电力设施。可再生能源相关项目的推进，不仅为西班牙经济增添绿色活力，也为就业与投资提供稳定支撑。
数字化转型是西班牙培育新动能的另一重要抓手。根据“西班牙数字2026”战略，政府承诺投入200亿欧元，推动全国范围的5G网络覆盖与数据中心建设。目前，西班牙已有超过70%的中小企业获得数字化转型补贴，用于提升电子商务运营能力、推动云计算与人工智能技术应用。在北部“欧洲智慧城市的窗口”桑坦德市，街头公交车普遍配备智能调度系统，乘客通过手机应用即可实时查询车辆到站时间；在巴塞罗那智慧城市示范区，街道灯光能根据人流、车流自动调节亮度，垃圾桶安装了智能传感器，可在接近满载时提醒环卫工人清运。这些细微之处的变化，让民众切实感受到数字化转型带来的便利与效率提升。
此外，马德里的多个创新园区已成为金融科技与生物医药产业的新兴集群，政府设立专项基金，鼓励大学、科研机构与企业开展产学研合作，加速科研成果转化。近年来，西班牙初创企业融资额保持两位数增长，彰显经济创新发展的潜力。
中西合作实现互利共赢
尽管当前西班牙经济整体呈现稳步发展态势，但仍面临不少内外部挑战：外部层面，全球贸易保护主义抬头、地缘冲突加剧、能源与大宗商品价格波动，给西班牙出口贸易与产业链安全带来不确定性，欧美货币政策分化也可能对金融市场稳定产生冲击。内部层面，西班牙服务业占GDP比重约70%，制造业占比不足20%，产业结构有待优化。同时，劳动力老龄化趋势明显、公共债务规模较大、财政可持续性承压等问题，也制约着经济长期健康发展。
在此背景下，中西务实合作的战略意义愈发凸显。近年来，两国双边经贸关系持续深化。根据中国海关总署统计，2024年中西双边贸易额达501亿美元，同比增长3.2%。今年1—8月，中西双边贸易额突破365.85亿美元，同比增长10.1%，中国稳居西班牙欧盟外第一大贸易伙伴。贸易往来中，西班牙葡萄酒、橄榄油、猪肉制品等优质农产品在中国市场广受青睐，中国的机电产品、新能源设备则凭借技术优势不断提升在西班牙市场的份额，成为西班牙推进绿色转型的重要助力。
在新能源领域，中国企业积极参与西班牙光伏、风电项目建设，提供技术支持、融资服务等；西班牙汽车制造商与中国合作伙伴携手推进电动化、智能化技术研发，在新能源汽车电池供应链构建、整车设计等领域取得突破性进展；中资电池企业在西班牙设立生产基地，既满足了当地电动车市场需求，又带动了就业与上下游产业发展，实现了互利共赢。
西班牙“知华讲堂”副主席兼总干事玛尔塔·蒙特罗表示，西中多层次合作给西班牙经济带来实实在在的利益：中国庞大的市场需求为西班牙农业、食品工业与高端消费品出口提供了广阔空间，中国领先的新能源技术与完整的产业链能力，为西班牙能源转型与工业升级提供助力。两国合作不仅实现了互利共赢，更对稳定欧中经贸关系、推动全球经济复苏发挥积极作用。
“中国是未来不可或缺的战略合作伙伴。”西班牙经济、贸易和企业部长卡洛斯·库尔波强调，包括西班牙在内的欧洲国家与中国开展合作，对于双方和全球发展都至关重要。
译文：
The tourism and other industries are rapidly recovering, and the economic and trade between China and the West are deepening and solidifying. The Spanish economy is demonstrating vitality and resilience from an international perspective
In the first half of this year, against the backdrop of widespread growth pressure in major European economies, the Spanish economy demonstrated vitality and resilience. In the first quarter, Spain's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.8% year-on-year, higher than the eurozone average. Entering the second quarter, Spain's economic growth momentum continued to consolidate, achieving a 0.7% month on month GDP growth and a 2.7% year-on-year growth, both exceeding market expectations and becoming one of the most impressive countries in the Eurozone's economic performance in the first half of the year. Faced with the uncertainty of the external environment and internal development challenges, Spain and China have continuously deepened and solidified their cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, energy, and tourism, achieving fruitful results.
Traditional industries build a solid foundation for growth
Spain's GDP growth rate in 2024 will reach 3.2%, leading major European economies, with a per capita GDP of approximately $35000. The Spanish Association of Financial Analysts predicts that the Spanish economy will continue to be resilient in 2025, with GDP growth expected to remain in the range of 2% to 3%.
From the perspective of industrial structure, the tertiary industry in Spain accounts for about 70% and plays a pillar role in the economy. The rapid recovery of the tourism industry has become an engine driving growth. In the first eight months of this year, Spain received over 66.8 million international tourists, an increase of nearly 3.9% compared to the same period last year. Among them, the number of international tourists received in August exceeded 11.3 million, and it is expected to exceed 100 million for the whole year. The prosperity of Spain's tourism industry is partly due to the easing of inflation pressure and the European Central Bank's interest rate cut policy, which has created conditions for the recovery of the tourism market; On the other hand, the significant increase in the number of Asian tourists, especially Chinese tourists, has injected momentum into the Spanish tourism industry. According to data from the Spanish National Tourism Agency, from January to July this year, the number of Chinese tourists reached 444000, a year-on-year increase of 11.9% and a year-on-year increase of 16.8% compared to the same period in 2019, making it one of the fastest-growing source countries.
Agriculture and food processing industries also contribute to the economic growth of Spain. Spain is known as the "European basket of vegetables" and is not only the fourth largest producer of agricultural products in the European Union, but also the largest exporter of fruits and vegetables in the EU and the third largest in the world. Its olive oil production and grape cultivation area rank first in the world, and it is also one of the most important wine producing countries in the world. Currently, traditional export commodities such as olive oil, wine, and seafood from Spain continue to maintain stable growth. According to data recently released by the Spanish Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association, the total value of fresh fruit and vegetable exports from Spain significantly increased in the first half of this year, with the EU market accounting for 84% of the total export volume, with an export volume of approximately 5.57 million tons.
The importance of the Chinese market in Spanish agricultural exports is increasingly prominent. In the first quarter of this year, Spain's exports of agricultural products to China increased by 24.2%. During the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez to China in April, both China and the West reached a consensus on further expanding agricultural trade. The Spanish think tank "Zhihua Lecture Hall" pointed out in an article that as Chinese consumers' demand for Mediterranean cuisine and healthy food continues to rise, the potential for cooperation in the field of agriculture between China and the West will be further unleashed.
Structural transformation cultivates development momentum
While consolidating its traditional advantageous industries, Spain is actively promoting economic structural transformation, especially the acceleration of green and digital transformation, allowing new driving forces for economic growth to continue to accumulate.
In recent years, Spain has actively promoted energy transformation. With the support of the EU Recovery Fund, the Spanish government has explicitly planned to increase the proportion of renewable energy in total energy consumption to 42% by 2030. In the first half of this year, Spain's newly installed wind and photovoltaic capacity both exceeded 5 million kilowatts, ranking among the forefront of clean energy development in Europe. At the same time, the Basque Country and Andalusia Autonomous Region have successively launched hydrogen energy pilot projects, promoting the gradual formation of the clean energy industry chain. Spanish energy giant Ivildrola has entered into deep cooperation with multiple international companies, planning to invest billions of euros in the next five years to build more green power facilities. The promotion of renewable energy related projects not only adds green vitality to the Spanish economy, but also provides stable support for employment and investment.
Digital transformation is another important lever for Spain to cultivate new driving forces. According to the "Spain Digital 2026" strategy, the government has committed to investing 20 billion euros to promote nationwide 5G network coverage and data center construction. Currently, over 70% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Spain have received digital transformation subsidies to enhance their e-commerce operational capabilities and promote the application of cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies. In Santander, the "window of European smart cities" in the north, street buses are generally equipped with intelligent dispatch systems, and passengers can check the arrival time of vehicles in real time through mobile applications; In the Barcelona Smart City Demonstration Zone, street lights can automatically adjust their brightness based on pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and smart sensors are installed in garbage bins to alert sanitation workers when approaching full load. These subtle changes allow the public to truly feel the convenience and efficiency improvement brought by digital transformation.
In addition, multiple innovation parks in Madrid have become emerging clusters in the fintech and biopharmaceutical industries. The government has set up special funds to encourage universities, research institutions, and enterprises to carry out industry university research cooperation and accelerate the transformation of scientific research achievements. In recent years, the financing amount of Spanish startups has maintained double-digit growth, demonstrating the potential for economic innovation and development.
Cooperation between China and the West for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes
Although the Spanish economy is currently showing a steady development trend, it still faces many internal and external challenges: on the external level, global trade protectionism is on the rise, geopolitical conflicts are intensifying, energy and commodity prices are fluctuating, which brings uncertainty to Spain's export trade and industrial chain security. The divergence of European and American monetary policies may also have an impact on the stability of financial markets. Internally, the service industry in Spain accounts for about 70% of GDP, while the manufacturing industry accounts for less than 20%, and the industrial structure needs to be optimized. At the same time, the obvious trend of aging labor force, large scale of public debt, and pressure on fiscal sustainability also constrain the long-term healthy development of the economy.
In this context, the strategic significance of pragmatic cooperation between China and the West has become increasingly prominent. In recent years, the bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries have continued to deepen. According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, the bilateral trade volume between China and the West reached 50.1 billion US dollars in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 3.2%. From January to August this year, the bilateral trade volume between China and the West exceeded 36.585 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 10.1%, and China remained Spain's largest trading partner outside the European Union. In trade exchanges, high-quality agricultural products such as Spanish wine, olive oil, and pork products are widely favored in the Chinese market. China's electromechanical products and new energy equipment continue to increase their market share in the Spanish market with technological advantages, becoming an important driving force for Spain to promote green transformation.
In the field of new energy, Chinese enterprises actively participate in the construction of photovoltaic and wind power projects in Spain, providing technical support, financing services, etc; Spanish car manufacturers join hands with Chinese partners to promote the research and development of electrification and intelligent technologies, making breakthrough progress in the construction of new energy vehicle battery supply chains, vehicle design, and other fields; Chinese battery companies have established production bases in Spain, which not only meet the demand of the local electric vehicle market, but also drive employment and the development of upstream and downstream industries, achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.
Marta Montero, Vice Chairman and Director General of the "Zhihua Lecture Hall" in Spain, stated that multi-level cooperation between Spain and China has brought tangible benefits to the Spanish economy: China's huge market demand provides vast space for Spain's agriculture, food industry, and high-end consumer goods exports, while China's leading new energy technology and complete industrial chain capabilities provide assistance for Spain's energy transformation and industrial upgrading. The cooperation between the two countries not only achieves mutual benefit and win-win results, but also plays a positive role in stabilizing the economic and trade relations between Europe and China and promoting global economic recovery.
China is an indispensable strategic partner for the future, "said Carlos Courpo, Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise of Spain." Cooperation between European countries, including Spain, and China is crucial for both sides and global development.
In the first half of this year, against the backdrop of widespread growth pressure in major European economies, the Spanish economy demonstrated vitality and resilience. In the first quarter, Spain's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.8% year-on-year, higher than the eurozone average. Entering the second quarter, Spain's economic growth momentum continued to consolidate, achieving a 0.7% month on month GDP growth and a 2.7% year-on-year growth, both exceeding market expectations and becoming one of the most impressive countries in the Eurozone's economic performance in the first half of the year. Faced with the uncertainty of the external environment and internal development challenges, Spain and China have continuously deepened and solidified their cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, energy, and tourism, achieving fruitful results.
Traditional industries build a solid foundation for growth
Spain's GDP growth rate in 2024 will reach 3.2%, leading major European economies, with a per capita GDP of approximately $35000. The Spanish Association of Financial Analysts predicts that the Spanish economy will continue to be resilient in 2025, with GDP growth expected to remain in the range of 2% to 3%.
From the perspective of industrial structure, the tertiary industry in Spain accounts for about 70% and plays a pillar role in the economy. The rapid recovery of the tourism industry has become an engine driving growth. In the first eight months of this year, Spain received over 66.8 million international tourists, an increase of nearly 3.9% compared to the same period last year. Among them, the number of international tourists received in August exceeded 11.3 million, and it is expected to exceed 100 million for the whole year. The prosperity of Spain's tourism industry is partly due to the easing of inflation pressure and the European Central Bank's interest rate cut policy, which has created conditions for the recovery of the tourism market; On the other hand, the significant increase in the number of Asian tourists, especially Chinese tourists, has injected momentum into the Spanish tourism industry. According to data from the Spanish National Tourism Agency, from January to July this year, the number of Chinese tourists reached 444000, a year-on-year increase of 11.9% and a year-on-year increase of 16.8% compared to the same period in 2019, making it one of the fastest-growing source countries.
Agriculture and food processing industries also contribute to the economic growth of Spain. Spain is known as the "European basket of vegetables" and is not only the fourth largest producer of agricultural products in the European Union, but also the largest exporter of fruits and vegetables in the EU and the third largest in the world. Its olive oil production and grape cultivation area rank first in the world, and it is also one of the most important wine producing countries in the world. Currently, traditional export commodities such as olive oil, wine, and seafood from Spain continue to maintain stable growth. According to data recently released by the Spanish Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association, the total value of fresh fruit and vegetable exports from Spain significantly increased in the first half of this year, with the EU market accounting for 84% of the total export volume, with an export volume of approximately 5.57 million tons.
The importance of the Chinese market in Spanish agricultural exports is increasingly prominent. In the first quarter of this year, Spain's exports of agricultural products to China increased by 24.2%. During the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez to China in April, both China and the West reached a consensus on further expanding agricultural trade. The Spanish think tank "Zhihua Lecture Hall" pointed out in an article that as Chinese consumers' demand for Mediterranean cuisine and healthy food continues to rise, the potential for cooperation in the field of agriculture between China and the West will be further unleashed.
Structural transformation cultivates development momentum
While consolidating its traditional advantageous industries, Spain is actively promoting economic structural transformation, especially the acceleration of green and digital transformation, allowing new driving forces for economic growth to continue to accumulate.
In recent years, Spain has actively promoted energy transformation. With the support of the EU Recovery Fund, the Spanish government has explicitly planned to increase the proportion of renewable energy in total energy consumption to 42% by 2030. In the first half of this year, Spain's newly installed wind and photovoltaic capacity both exceeded 5 million kilowatts, ranking among the forefront of clean energy development in Europe. At the same time, the Basque Country and Andalusia Autonomous Region have successively launched hydrogen energy pilot projects, promoting the gradual formation of the clean energy industry chain. Spanish energy giant Ivildrola has entered into deep cooperation with multiple international companies, planning to invest billions of euros in the next five years to build more green power facilities. The promotion of renewable energy related projects not only adds green vitality to the Spanish economy, but also provides stable support for employment and investment.
Digital transformation is another important lever for Spain to cultivate new driving forces. According to the "Spain Digital 2026" strategy, the government has committed to investing 20 billion euros to promote nationwide 5G network coverage and data center construction. Currently, over 70% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Spain have received digital transformation subsidies to enhance their e-commerce operational capabilities and promote the application of cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies. In Santander, the "window of European smart cities" in the north, street buses are generally equipped with intelligent dispatch systems, and passengers can check the arrival time of vehicles in real time through mobile applications; In the Barcelona Smart City Demonstration Zone, street lights can automatically adjust their brightness based on pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and smart sensors are installed in garbage bins to alert sanitation workers when approaching full load. These subtle changes allow the public to truly feel the convenience and efficiency improvement brought by digital transformation.
In addition, multiple innovation parks in Madrid have become emerging clusters in the fintech and biopharmaceutical industries. The government has set up special funds to encourage universities, research institutions, and enterprises to carry out industry university research cooperation and accelerate the transformation of scientific research achievements. In recent years, the financing amount of Spanish startups has maintained double-digit growth, demonstrating the potential for economic innovation and development.
Cooperation between China and the West for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes
Although the Spanish economy is currently showing a steady development trend, it still faces many internal and external challenges: on the external level, global trade protectionism is on the rise, geopolitical conflicts are intensifying, energy and commodity prices are fluctuating, which brings uncertainty to Spain's export trade and industrial chain security. The divergence of European and American monetary policies may also have an impact on the stability of financial markets. Internally, the service industry in Spain accounts for about 70% of GDP, while the manufacturing industry accounts for less than 20%, and the industrial structure needs to be optimized. At the same time, the obvious trend of aging labor force, large scale of public debt, and pressure on fiscal sustainability also constrain the long-term healthy development of the economy.
In this context, the strategic significance of pragmatic cooperation between China and the West has become increasingly prominent. In recent years, the bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries have continued to deepen. According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, the bilateral trade volume between China and the West reached 50.1 billion US dollars in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 3.2%. From January to August this year, the bilateral trade volume between China and the West exceeded 36.585 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 10.1%, and China remained Spain's largest trading partner outside the European Union. In trade exchanges, high-quality agricultural products such as Spanish wine, olive oil, and pork products are widely favored in the Chinese market. China's electromechanical products and new energy equipment continue to increase their market share in the Spanish market with technological advantages, becoming an important driving force for Spain to promote green transformation.
In the field of new energy, Chinese enterprises actively participate in the construction of photovoltaic and wind power projects in Spain, providing technical support, financing services, etc; Spanish car manufacturers join hands with Chinese partners to promote the research and development of electrification and intelligent technologies, making breakthrough progress in the construction of new energy vehicle battery supply chains, vehicle design, and other fields; Chinese battery companies have established production bases in Spain, which not only meet the demand of the local electric vehicle market, but also drive employment and the development of upstream and downstream industries, achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.
Agriculture and food processing industries also contribute to the economic growth of Spain. Spain is known as the "European basket of vegetables" and is not only the fourth largest producer of agricultural products in the European Union, but also the largest exporter of fruits and vegetables in the EU and the third largest in the world. Its olive oil production and grape cultivation area rank first in the world, and it is also one of the most important wine producing countries in the world. Currently, traditional export commodities such as olive oil, wine, and seafood from Spain continue to maintain stable growth. According to data recently released by the Spanish Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association, the total value of fresh fruit and vegetable exports from Spain significantly increased in the first half of this year, with the EU market accounting for 84% of the total export volume, with an export volume of approximately 5.57 million tons.
The importance of the Chinese market in Spanish agricultural exports is increasingly prominent. In the first quarter of this year, Spain's exports of agricultural products to China increased by 24.2%. During the visit of Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez to China in April, both China and the West reached a consensus on further expanding agricultural trade. The Spanish think tank "Zhihua Lecture Hall" pointed out in an article that as Chinese consumers' demand for Mediterranean cuisine and healthy food continues to rise, the potential for cooperation in the field of agriculture between China and the West will be further unleashed.
Structural transformation cultivates development momentum
While consolidating its traditional advantageous industries, Spain is actively promoting economic structural transformation, especially the acceleration of green and digital transformation, allowing new driving forces for economic growth to continue to accumulate.
In recent years, Spain has actively promoted energy transformation. With the support of the EU Recovery Fund, the Spanish government has explicitly planned to increase the proportion of renewable energy in total energy consumption to 42% by 2030. In the first half of this year, Spain's newly installed wind and photovoltaic capacity both exceeded 5 million kilowatts, ranking among the forefront of clean energy development in Europe. At the same time, the Basque Country and Andalusia Autonomous Region have successively launched hydrogen energy pilot projects, promoting the gradual formation of the clean energy industry chain. Spanish energy giant Ivildrola has entered into deep cooperation with multiple international companies, planning to invest billions of euros in the next five years to build more green power facilities. The promotion of renewable energy related projects not only adds green vitality to the Spanish economy, but also provides stable support for employment and investment.
Digital transformation is another important lever for Spain to cultivate new driving forces. According to the "Spain Digital 2026" strategy, the government has committed to investing 20 billion euros to promote nationwide 5G network coverage and data center construction. Currently, over 70% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Spain have received digital transformation subsidies to enhance their e-commerce operational capabilities and promote the application of cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies. In Santander, the "window of European smart cities" in the north, street buses are generally equipped with intelligent dispatch systems, and passengers can check the arrival time of vehicles in real time through mobile applications; In the Barcelona Smart City Demonstration Zone, street lights can automatically adjust their brightness based on pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and smart sensors are installed in garbage bins to alert sanitation workers when approaching full load. These subtle changes allow the public to truly feel the convenience and efficiency improvement brought by digital transformation.
In addition, multiple innovation parks in Madrid have become emerging clusters in the fintech and biopharmaceutical industries. The government has set up special funds to encourage universities, research institutions, and enterprises to carry out industry university research cooperation and accelerate the transformation of scientific research achievements. In recent years, the financing amount of Spanish startups has maintained double-digit growth, demonstrating the potential for economic innovation and development.
Cooperation between China and the West for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes
Although the Spanish economy is currently showing a steady development trend, it still faces many internal and external challenges: on the external level, global trade protectionism is on the rise, geopolitical conflicts are intensifying, energy and commodity prices are fluctuating, which brings uncertainty to Spain's export trade and industrial chain security. The divergence of European and American monetary policies may also have an impact on the stability of financial markets. Internally, the service industry in Spain accounts for about 70% of GDP, while the manufacturing industry accounts for less than 20%, and the industrial structure needs to be optimized. At the same time, the obvious trend of aging labor force, large scale of public debt, and pressure on fiscal sustainability also constrain the long-term healthy development of the economy.
In this context, the strategic significance of pragmatic cooperation between China and the West has become increasingly prominent. In recent years, the bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries have continued to deepen. According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China, the bilateral trade volume between China and the West reached 50.1 billion US dollars in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 3.2%. From January to August this year, the bilateral trade volume between China and the West exceeded 36.585 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 10.1%, and China remained Spain's largest trading partner outside the European Union. In trade exchanges, high-quality agricultural products such as Spanish wine, olive oil, and pork products are widely favored in the Chinese market. China's electromechanical products and new energy equipment continue to increase their market share in the Spanish market with technological advantages, becoming an important driving force for Spain to promote green transformation.
In the field of new energy, Chinese enterprises actively participate in the construction of photovoltaic and wind power projects in Spain, providing technical support, financing services, etc; Spanish car manufacturers join hands with Chinese partners to promote the research and development of electrification and intelligent technologies, making breakthrough progress in the construction of new energy vehicle battery supply chains, vehicle design, and other fields; Chinese battery companies have established production bases in Spain, which not only meet the demand of the local electric vehicle market, but also drive employment and the development of upstream and downstream industries, achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.
Marta Montero, Vice Chairman and Director General of the "Zhihua Lecture Hall" in Spain, stated that multi-level cooperation between Spain and China has brought tangible benefits to the Spanish economy: China's huge market demand provides vast space for Spain's agriculture, food industry, and high-end consumer goods exports, while China's leading new energy technology and complete industrial chain capabilities provide assistance for Spain's energy transformation and industrial upgrading. The cooperation between the two countries not only achieves mutual benefit and win-win results, but also plays a positive role in stabilizing the economic and trade relations between Europe and China and promoting global economic recovery.
China is an indispensable strategic partner for the future, "said Carlos Courpo, Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise of Spain." Cooperation between European countries, including Spain, and China is crucial for both sides and global development.