Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday offered Spain’s King Felipe VI a vision of partnership with “significant global influence,” as Beijing looks to gain Madrid’s backing within the EU in return for enhanced economic cooperation.

Felipe is the first Spanish monarch to make a state visit to China in 18 years, as Madrid leads the European Union in courting Beijing for fresh investment after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to make Spain “pay twice as much” unless it increases its NATO contributions.

For its part, China is eager to move past trade frictions with the 27-member bloc over its heavily subsidised electric vehicle industry. In addition, tensions with the White House are weighing on its export-driven economy, prompting Chinese firms to seek new commercial hubs in region

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