Archives March 2025

On 26 March 2025, Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Chairman of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain, held talks in Yichang with Mr. Tan Hua, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Gezhouba Group Corporation of Energy China. The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on supporting Spain’s low-carbon and green energy transition, jointly developing high-quality benchmark cooperation projects between Chinese and Spanish enterprises, and expanding pragmatic cooperation in areas including green and low-carbon energy, hydropower, water resources, and environmental protection. During the meeting, broad consensus was reached.

Mr. Zapatero expressed appreciation for Gezhouba Group’s contributions to China–Spain economic and trade relations and to the development of the green and low-carbon energy sector. He noted that Energy China and Gezhouba Group, as leading enterprises in the global energy and power sector, possess strong comprehensive capabilities and prominent integrated advantages, and enjoy significant development potential in Spain. He welcomed Gezhouba Group’s in-depth participation in investment and construction in key sectors in Spain, including new energy, hydropower, and water and environmental protection. He also expressed his expectation that both sides would further strengthen communication and mutual visits, advance a package of cooperation projects based on a cooperation project list, and support Spain’s green and low-carbon energy transition.

Mr. Tan Hua welcomed Mr. Zapatero and his delegation. He noted that Gezhouba Group takes its name from the construction of the Gezhouba Project, the first dam on the Yangtze River, and is renowned as a main force in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower project. The Group is widely recognized as a “global calling card” for hydropower construction and a leading enterprise under the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the years, Gezhouba Group has actively expanded its overseas presence, with operations in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. Spain is an important overseas market for Energy China. Gezhouba Group is willing to leverage the advantages of the “Four New” energy platform to further strengthen localized operations in Spain. While actively participating in investment and construction in Spain’s green and low-carbon energy, hydropower, and water and environmental protection sectors, the Group will also work closely with Spanish local enterprises to jointly participate in renewable energy projects—such as photovoltaic and solar thermal hybrid projects, wind power, pumped-storage hydropower, and hydrogen energy—in Latin America, North Africa, the Middle East, and other regions, with the aim of building high-quality benchmark cooperation projects between Chinese and Spanish enterprises.

Prior to the talks, Mr. Tan Hua accompanied Mr. Zapatero and his delegation on visits to the Three Gorges Project Museum, the crest of the Three Gorges Dam, and the River Closure Memorial Park.

On 25 March 2025, Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Chairman of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain, together with the Delegation, met with Mr. Liu Xiaoming, Deputy Secretary of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Hainan Province, in Boao.

Mr. Zapatero stated that China has become Spain’s largest trading partner aside from the European Union. He noted that China continues to expand high-level opening-up and is vigorously advancing the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, positioning Hainan as a more open gateway to the world. Spain is willing to deepen cooperation with Hainan in areas such as tourism, ports, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and artificial intelligence, in order to achieve mutual benefit and win-win development through joint efforts.

Mr. Liu Xiaoming welcomed Mr. Zapatero and his delegation and introduced the general conditions of Hainan Province and the progress of Free Trade Port development. He noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China–Spain comprehensive strategic partnership. Hainan has long maintained close bilateral relations with Spain and hopes to further strengthen cooperation in tourism, economic and trade exchanges, ports, and subnational government engagement. He expressed expectations for advancing one-stop tourism product development, mutual exchange of tourist sources, connecting flight routes, leveraging the China International Consumer Products Expo to expand markets for high-quality products, opening regular shipping routes, establishing sister-city relationships, carrying out third-party cooperation with Latin America, and jointly promoting sustainable development.