With the aim of strengthening international cooperation and opening new opportunities for Aragonese entrepreneurs, the mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, is embarking on a strategic mission to China this September. The trip seeks to consolidate institutional, economic, and cultural relations with the Asian country, continuing the contacts maintained over the past year that have opened a new chapter in the internationalization of the Aragonese capital.
The tour will take the mayor and a delegation of business representatives and local clusters to five key cities: Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Jiaxing, and Haining. There, they will hold meetings with political authorities and leading companies in sectors such as technology, energy, and logistics. The purpose is clear: to attract investments, open Asian markets to Aragonese companies, and shape strategic alliances that enhance Zaragoza’s competitiveness on the global map. Among the planned meetings, one of note will take place in Nanjing, where a possible institutional twinning has already been proposed, and avenues for collaboration with energy companies have been explored, including direct contact with the president of China Petroleum.
This trip occurs in a favorable context, marked by the sustained growth of relations between Spain and China. The Asian country solidified its position in 2024 as Spain’s fourth largest trading partner, its second largest supplier, and the twelfth largest destination for exports, demonstrating the potential for an expanding economic relationship. In Zaragoza, this relationship has already yielded concrete outcomes: the Chinese multinational TDG announced the establishment of a battery storage systems plant in the city, with an estimated investment of 120 million euros and the creation of around 800 jobs over the next five years. A tangible example of the type of projects that the Aragonese capital aims to continue attracting.
For the local business fabric, this mission represents a strategic opportunity. It not only opens doors for small and medium-sized enterprises interested in accessing Chinese suppliers and capital but also broadens horizons in technological innovation, clean energy, and digitalization. At the same time, strengthening institutional ties generates cultural and educational benefits that enhance Zaragoza’s appeal as an open, modern city connected to the world.
More than a mere protocol gesture, Chueca’s trip to China represents a bet on the city’s economic future. At a time when investment and trade flows with Asia are intensifying, Zaragoza seeks to position itself as a strategic partner and competitive platform in southern Europe. This operation not only reinforces the internationalization of the productive fabric but also places the Aragonese capital in a prominent position within the global economic landscape.
