The Socialist premier will also visit Vietnam during his trip to Asia, the spokeswoman added without giving exact dates for his tour of the two nations.

The trip comes as the European Union is rethinking its global trading relationships amid turmoil caused by the trade war launched by US President Donald Trump against competitors and partners alike since he took office in January.

Sanchez called for a "fair trade order" during his last trip to Beijing in September 2024 as tensions between China and the EU were escalating over the bloc's decision to impose hefty tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars.

The EU argues the tariffs are needed to protect European manufacturers from unfair competition from state-sponsored Chinese firms.

China responded by launching a probe into imports of pork products from the EU. Spain is the largest exporter in the bloc of pork products to China.