The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, today presented the new Asia-Pacific Strategy 2026-2029 at the headquarters of Casa Asia in Barcelona, at an event attended by ambassadors from countries in the region and representatives of institutions linked to diplomacy with Asia and the Pacific.
The Strategy, approved by the Council of Ministers on 9 December, constitutes the roadmap with which Spain will guide its action towards a region that has become the centre of gravity of international relations thanks to its growing demographic, economic and political weight. This region accounts for 60% of the world's population, 45% of global GDP and 45% of industrial production. For all these reasons, Minister Albares stressed that a global foreign policy with and identity of its own, such as Spain's, cannot fail to look to the Asia-Pacific region.
“At a time when we hear nostalgic or openly reactionary speeches expressing fear of a more diverse and multipolar world, Spain looks abroad, including to the East, with an attitude of listening and an outstretched hand to seek solutions to common challenges with our Asia-Pacific partners, such as ecological transition, digital transformation, and international peace and security," Albares said in his speech to the ambassadors.
Lines of action
Minister Albares presented the main lines of action for the coming years, which seek to deepen political and economic ties through greater diplomatic deployment on the ground and to work together with regional partners to generate shared, sustainable and secure growth opportunities.
The aim is also to strengthen Europe's presence in Asia-Pacific by supporting new economic agreements and stable relationship frameworks and to continue strengthening cooperation through science, innovation, culture, public diplomacy and connections between societies.
In recent years, important steps have already been taken that demonstrate this commitment to deepening relations with countries in the region, as evidenced by the recent trip of Their Majesties the King and Queen to China in 2025, the visits of the Prime Minister to China, Korea, India, Japan and Vietnam, and the support for the conclusion of EU free trade agreements with India, Indonesia and New Zealand.
Implementation phase
The Strategy, which is already being fully implemented, promotes scientific, technological, educational and cultural cooperation. Spain contributes universities, networks such as Horizon Europe, cutting-edge infrastructure and Council Foundations with Australia, China, India and Japan.
This Strategy has recently been reinforced by actions such as Minister Albares' recent trip to India and the celebration in 2026 of the Dual Year between the two countries, the Prime Minister's visit to India this February and to China scheduled for next April, the presentation of Spain's candidacy for the new Pacific Islands Forum partnership mechanism, the intensification of political consultations with various regional partners — such as those held since December with Indonesia, Uzbekistan and Australia — and the planned signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which will strengthen and structure relations with this important regional bloc.
In the coming months, there are also plans to create a mechanism for strategic dialogue with China at ministerial level, launch a Spain-India Advisory Council, and set up an Interministerial Commission on Asian Affairs to strengthen the coordination of ambitious and multidimensional foreign policy, among other measures.
Download the full document: Asia-Pacific Strategy 2026-2029.pdf
You can view the images from the presentation
here.
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