Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday that deeper engagement with China and the pursuit of a positive agenda with Beijing are in the interests of both Spain and the European Union.

Sanchez made the remarks at a media briefing in Beijing during his five-day official visit to China, which runs through Wednesday, his fourth trip to the country in four years.

Outlining the reasons for his visit to China, Sanchez said the current international order is being weakened and eroded, and that Spain would rather focus its efforts on reforming the system that has safeguarded peace for decades, making it more inclusive, more representative and more democratic.

He said the visit was also aimed at advancing a new, multipolar and more stable international order in which relations are built on mutual respect, pragmatism and a shared vision of prosperity.

On Spain's approach to China, Sanchez said he firmly believes that stronger ties with Beijing and the building of a positive agenda are in the interests of both Spain and the EU.

Spain's aim, he said, is to bring countries closer together and build bridges, not the opposite — not to break bridges or sever international ties.

He also encouraged China to continue playing an active role in strengthening the multilateral system and providing global public goods.

As a major country, he said, China should continue stepping up efforts to address the climate emergency — as it is already doing — continue contributing to poverty reduction, as it has been doing, and, of course, use its own diplomatic efforts to help resolve the conflicts and wars afflicting the world.

Turning to the Middle East situation, Sanchez said that, apart from China, it is very difficult to find other parties capable of helping defuse the situation in Iran and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

China, he said, can play an important role in pursuing diplomatic channels to help end the war and contribute to stability and peace.

He added that people, households, businesses and industry in Europe, across the world and in Spain had already begun to feel the effects of the conflict.

For that reason, he said, any effort by countries — especially those that remain in contact with the parties involved and have not taken an active part in what he described as an illegal war — is not only welcome, but very necessary.

Addressing Spain's broader foreign policy stance, Sanchez said Spain had remained consistent and that no one should feel offended by its defense of international law and a rules-based international order.

Defending multilateralism and the rule of international law, he said, is in the interests of both Spain and the EU. Spain, he added, would have no problem whatsoever in continuing to stand on the right side of history.