"We expect much more in the future together than we achieved in the past separated," declared Antonio Miguel Carmona, Chairman of Spain's Friends of China Association, encapsulating his optimism for Spain-China relations as he concluded a visit to Guangzhou.
Leading a seven-member delegation of Spanish universities and institutions invited by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Professor Carmona, who is also an Economics Professor at Universidad CEU San Pablo, emphasized China's distinct and successful development model.
"China has grown significantly in recent years," Carmona noted, "and the future of China holds even greater promise than its past." He stressed that China should now participate "as a leader in global affairs, for the shared development of all nations," underscoring his belief in multilateralism: "the world must participate in multilateral growth, initial growth for the whole world."
Guangdong: an engine of cooperation & innovation
The choice of Guangdong as the visit's focus was deliberate. Carmona lauded the province as a powerhouse vital to the global economy. "The development of Guangdong is so big and so important for the world," he stated. "Its trade, investment, capital, and innovations are so strong."
This strength directly benefits Spanish businesses: "Spanish enterprises improve because of Chinese, Guangdong technology. Our enterprises get more productivity in their production." He highlighted the tangible benefits of cooperation: "It's very important for us to import this technology, to cooperate, and to work together, especially with places like Guangdong, which is beneficial for the whole world."
Delegates led by Antonio Miguel Carmona visit CZI, a drone maker in Guangzhou, Guangdong
His own company, he revealed, successfully "imports technology from China to Europe," adding that European partners "are happier... feel reassured" when sourcing from China.
Carmona expressed strong confidence in Guangdong's global market potential: "For the Guangdong services and products, I'm absolutely convinced they can sell these products and these services well."
China charts a path towards growth with equity
Central to Carmona's analysis was his view of China's unique economic trajectory. While acknowledging similarities in the growth process, he pinpointed a crucial divergence: "the use of the added value generated is different."
He explained, "China has used the added value to help eliminate poverty. That's different from the West... In the West, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer."
He elaborated on the sustainability of China's approach, linking innovation, talent, and equitable outcomes: "Innovation is the engine, the fuel of growth. If you have talent in China, supported by a very good educational system and an innovation system, future growth is assured."
Crucially, he added, "growth is the basis responsible for new prosperity and the added value generated that you have used to eliminate poverty in China. This last step is different from the West." He contrasted this with cyclical Western instability driven by investment volatility, referencing Keynes.
Openness should be championed while division is rejected
Carmona was unequivocal in his advocacy for open engagement with China, positioning it as the antidote to protectionism and conflict. "We have to open our frontiers," he urged. "I believe in free trade. I don't believe in tariffs. I don't believe in war. I don't believe in Donald Trump. I believe in the freedom of the world, in free trade, and in cooperation with China. And I think we are very, very complementary."
Delegates from Spain attend a session dissecting cooperative agendas in education at Sun Yat-sen University
He specifically praised China's recent visa-free policy for Spanish citizens as "a very clever move," signaling that "China is open to the world, and China is open to Spain." This openness, he argued, is fundamental to mutual progress.
With the impending state visit of the King of Spain to China, Carmona sees significant momentum. "As the King of Spain is coming to China, we'll open our arms," he stated, reinforcing his initial sentiment about the superior potential of cooperation.
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Cameraman: Deng Yingheng
Photo: Deng Yingheng
Video editor: Liang Zijian
Poster: Cai Junru
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He
