Spain and China are poised for significant advancements in agri-food collaboration, as highlighted by Spanish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, in a recent interview with Xinhua. Minister Planas emphasized the remarkable progress witnessed in China over recent decades, describing the nation as a compelling market for top-quality agri-food products due to increased purchasing power.
Acknowledging the pivotal role of commercial infrastructure, Minister Planas underscored the significance of freight trains connecting Yiwu in eastern China to Madrid, Spain’s capital. These trains, operating under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China in 2013, traverse a distance of 13,052 kilometers across eight countries, constituting the world’s longest railway line. Minister Planas lauded the BRI for its logistical efficiency and environmental friendliness, citing rail transport’s lower emissions compared to maritime and air transportation.
Highlighting the substantial volume of trade facilitated by China-Europe freight trains, Minister Planas noted that over 90,000 trips had been completed, transporting more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
Minister Planas underscored the burgeoning presence of the Spanish agri-food sector in the Chinese market, particularly in segments such as meat products, olive oil, and wine.
Moreover, beyond the agri-food sector, Minister Planas emphasized the mutually beneficial investments between Spain and China as key drivers in fostering deeper bilateral relations. He noted the positive impact of investments made by Chinese companies in Spain and vice versa, attributing them to enhancing ties between the two nations.
