In June 1978, as the gentle early summer breeze swept across the ancient land of China, King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Queen Sofía embarked on their state visit to China.

　　At the time, the national flags of China and Spain fluttered side by side along Beijing’s Chang’an Avenue. Towering at street corners were grand portraits of the King and the Queen, setting the tone for a warm and ceremonious welcome to the Spanish head of state. Upon meeting Chinese leaders, the first line of greeting from King Juan Carlos I was, “My visit to China is historic.” The word “historic” carried profound meanings.

　　“He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true hero.” The Great Wall is both a window through which the world comes to understand China and a bridge through which China engages with the world. On June 18, 1978, the King and the Queen ascended the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing’s Yanqing District. With great enthusiasm, the couple climbed to two of the watchtowers, gazing out at the magnificent scenery within and beyond the Wall. The majestic Badaling Great Wall, like a giant dragon winding through rugged mountains, has borne witness to the vicissitudes and triumphs of history. The images of the royal couple standing atop the Wall turned into a timeless moment, forever etched into history.

　　King Juan Carlos I visited China again in 1995 and 2007. He once said that he admired, China’s ancient and rich culture, the creativity and diligence of its people, and the sustained, rapid growth of the country in general. He praised China for combining thousands of years of civilization with an extraordinary capacity for innovation, achieving remarkable new milestones.

　　He once said that he admired China's ancient and rich culture, the creativity and diligence of its people, and the sustained, rapid growth of the country in general, as well as China's ability to achieve remarkable new milestones by combining its millennia-old civilization with exceptional innovation.

　　Looking back, King Juan Carlos I’s three visits to China were significant milestones, and a testament to the deepening ties between China and Spain. From his first ascent of the Badaling Great Wall in 1978, his connection with China was firmly established. The Great Wall has transformed into a bridge for cultural exchange between China and the West. The ancient China has risen beyond the Great Wall, extending a heartfelt embrace to the world, and showcasing its openness, progress, and confident vitality on the global arena.