Pedro Sánchez’s Beijing Speech: A Multipolar World
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez delivered a speech at Tsinghua University on April 13, 2026, calling for the world to accept multipolarity as fact rather than theory. This is his fourth visit to China in four years.
Image: global.chinadaily.com.cn - Spanish PM calls for a multipolar world in Tsinghua speech
According to China Daily, Sánchez opened with a story about the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci, who arrived in China in 1583 carrying a European map that placed Europe at the center. When Chinese cartographers objected, Ricci redrew it with the Pacific at the center. “Four hundred years have passed, but unfortunately, there are still people who see the world through that original, distorted map,” Sánchez said. “That view is not only wrong, but very dangerous.”
He outlined three priorities: reforming the UN to make the Security Council more representative, building fair and reciprocal trade with China, and pressing major countries to take on greater responsibility for climate, AI governance, and public health. “Size means not only power, but also more responsibility,” he said.
Image: english.cas.cn - Spanish PM Stresses Role of Cooperation in Driving Scientific Progress
The same day, Sánchez visited the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he received an honorary professorship. According to CAS, he said: “Cooperation does not weaken science. It strengthens. It improves its quality, expands its impact, and creates lasting bonds between science communities.” The two countries have active joint projects in synchrotron radiation, optical astronomy, and marine science.
Sánchez’s repeated trips to Beijing reflect Spain’s growing diplomatic ambition. As CGTN noted, Spain and China are “increasingly speaking the same language on international law and rules.” The visit runs through Wednesday.
Sources: China Daily, CAS, CGTN/YouTube