BEIJING: “This trip to Shanghai has left me with marvelous experiences. So here comes a simple question: when can I return? Congratulations on so much wonder,” wrote the President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi, who took a ferry to enjoy the night view of Shanghai’s Huangpu River on Thursday evening, on the ferry’s guestbook.
The note capped the fifth day of Orsi’s seven-day visit to China and, together with his tour of Yuyuan Garden on Thursday, reflected a more culturally rich, warm itinerary that is increasingly becoming a defining feature of foreign leaders’ trips to China.
Orsi arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a seven-day state visit to China. This makes Orsi the sixth foreign leader to visit China and hold meetings with the Chinese leader since the beginning of 2026, following leaders of South Korea, Ireland, Canada, Finland and most recently the UK.
Amid profound geopolitical and economic adjustment, a growing wave of foreign leaders are gathering for visits to China.
According to public statements and media reports, potential visits by US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez are expected to further extend this momentum, underscoring a broader recalibration as more countries turn their attention eastward.
Analysts say the trend reflects more than scheduling coincidence. While policy choices differ from country to country, the overall direction is clear: amid growing uncertainty in the global order, many governments are seeking engagement with China’s policy stability, market scale and expanding cooperation in emerging sectors. At the same time, the increasingly immersive nature of these visits — marked by cultural exploration and interaction with local Chinese — signals a deeper, more people-oriented approach to diplomacy. On Wednesday, Trump again said on his social media account that he plans to visit China in April, saying he “very much looks forward to” the visit.
On the same day, Yury Ushakov, a presidential aide, said that Putin will visit China in the first half of 2026, according to a release published on the official website of the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez is planning to travel to China in mid-April, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the preparations.
If the trip goes ahead, Bloomberg noted, it would be Sánchez’s fourth visit to China since 2023, following a visit by King Felipe VI in November 2025. The Spanish prime minister is expected to travel with a group of business leaders, the source said.
Sánchez’s last visit to China was fruitful. As a result of his previous trip, Spain and China reached seven agreements aimed at facilitating the sale of Spanish food, health and cosmetic products to China, as well as increasing cooperation in culture, science and education, according to Spain’s prime minister’s office, La Moncloa.
As more leaders turn their attention eastward, experts say the trend reflects a strategic choice emerging after geopolitical realignments — one that prioritizes certainty and forward-looking cooperation.
Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao reported that Wednesday marks Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, and China diplomacy is witnessing a warm season with a wave of visits by foreign leaders. –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
