"China is an opportunity not a threat": Spanish business executive

转自：Xinhua

StaffmembersposeforaphotoinfrontofaChineseexhibitionboothduringtheInternationalTourismFairFITUR2023inMadrid,Spain,Jan.18,2023.(PhotobyGustavoValiente/Xinhua)

Orriols said Spanish companies have a great opportunity to help satisfy the growing demand in China for quality consumer products and services.

BARCELONA,Spain,Feb.23(Xinhua)--"MybusinessadviceafterworkinginandinteractingwiththeChinesemarketsince2004isthatweshouldnotseeChinaasathreatbutasanopportunity,"MarinOrriols,directoroftheInternationalDepartmentoftheBarcelonaChamberofCommerce,toldXinhuainaninterviewonThursday.

"ThebestadviceIcangiveasaspecialististolearnabouttheChinesemarket,visitthatmarket,talktothatmarket,forgeallianceswiththatmarket,"andtrytobenefitfromthemarketknowledge,hesaid.

SincetheestablishmentofdiplomaticrelationsbetweenChinaandSpaininMarch1973,bilateraltradehasincreasedtomorethan43billioneuros(45.5billionU.S.dollars),accordingto2021figuresfromtheSpanishInstituteforForeignTrade(ICEX).

AresidentposesforaphotowithaliondancerduringaneventtocelebratetheChineseNewYearinMadrid,Spain,Jan.20,2023.(PhotobyGustavoValiente/Xinhua)

"IencourageourbusinesspeopletogotoChina,todobusinessinChina.It'scomplicated...butitisworthit,andweareinafantasticpositiontobecomegoodtradingpartners,"Orriolssaid.

HearguedthatSpanishcompanieshaveagreatopportunitytohelpsatisfythegrowingdemandinChinaforqualityconsumerproductsandservices.

"Tradeisgrowingrapidly,"hesaid,"whiletheconsumptionofChina'sexpandingmiddleclasscontinuestogrow,itfavorsSpanishexports."

Inthepast50years,economiclinksbetweenthetwocountrieshavebeenstrengthenedbyhigh-levelvisits.AccordingtoSpanishpressreports,Spain'sPrimeMinisterPedroSanchezisscheduledtovisitChinathisyear.

ChineseNewYearpostersareseenonastreetinMadrid,Spain,Jan.21,2023.(PhotobyGustavoValiente/Xinhua)

TravelisanotherbusinessopportunitythatOrriolspointsto,withSpainbeingaglobalpowerhouseinthetourismindustryandChinabeingthelargestsourceofinternationaltourists,especiallynowthatthepandemicrestrictionshavebeenremoved.

OrriolssaidthatinplaceslikeBarcelona,moregroupsofChinesetouristsareseen.ThetouristsnotonlygenerateverysignificantrevenuebutalsoactasambassadorsforSpanishproductsandserviceswhentheyreturnChina.

OrriolsalsobelievesthatChina'sincreasinginvestmentabroadoffersnewbusinessopportunitiesforSpanishcompanies.

"WhatdotheChineseneed?Localpartners.So,ifwefindthatChinesebusinesswithagoodproductorservicethatwebelievehasafuturehere,thenwhatmakesthemostsenseistoallywiththemandtogrowstrongertogether."

SpanishbuyerDanielJavierSalvador(C)talkswithanexhibitorattheboothofahomeappliancesproducerduringthe130thsessionoftheChinaImportandExportFair,ortheCantonFair,inGuangzhou,southChina'sGuangdongProvince,Oct.15,2021.(Xinhua/LiuDawei)

编辑：刘思雨