Pedro Sánchez's Beijing Speech: A Multipolar World

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez delivered a speech at Tsinghua University on April 13, 2026, calling for the world to accept multipolarity as fact rather than theory. This is his fourth visit to China in four years.

Image: global.chinadaily.com.cn - Spanish PM calls for a multipolar world in Tsinghua speech

According to China Daily, Sánchez opened with a story about the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci, who arrived in China in 1583 carrying a European map that placed Europe at the center. When Chinese cartographers objected, Ricci redrew it with the Pacific at the center. "Four hundred years have passed, but unfortunately, there are still people who see the world through that original, distorted map," Sánchez said. "That view is not only wrong, but very dangerous."

He outlined three priorities: reforming the UN to make the Security Council more representative, building fair and reciprocal trade with China, and pressing major countries to take on greater responsibility for climate, AI governance, and public health. "Size means not only power, but also more responsibility," he said.

Image: english.cas.cn - Spanish PM Stresses Role of Cooperation in Driving Scientific Progress

The same day, Sánchez visited the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he received an honorary professorship. According to CAS, he said: "Cooperation does not weaken science. It strengthens. It improves its quality, expands its impact, and creates lasting bonds between science communities." The two countries have active joint projects in synchrotron radiation, optical astronomy, and marine science.

Image: Wilson Center - It’s the Economy (and More): Why Macron and von der Leyen are in China – Expert Quick Takes

Sánchez's repeated trips to Beijing reflect Spain's growing diplomatic ambition. As CGTN noted, Spain and China are "increasingly speaking the same language on international law and rules." The visit runs through Wednesday.

Sources: China Daily, CAS, CGTN/YouTube

First step to the Matrix?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbspvLmhnUQ

Physicists have observed "holes" in light, known as optical vortices, moving faster than the light itself. This phenomenon does not break relativity as the vortices carry no mass, energy, or information. The achievement is a result of using electron microscopy to capture the motion of optical vortices in a two-dimensional material called hexagonal boron nitride.

Key points about the discovery:

• Optical vortices are whirlpools in a wave of light that can outrun the light they're embedded within
• The vortices carry no mass, energy, or information, so they don't break relativity
• The phenomenon was observed in a two-dimensional material using a specialized high-speed electron microscope
• The technique used can help study hidden processes in physics, chemistry, and biology
• The researchers used a new method called electron interferometry to enhance image sharpness and capture the motion of the vortices.
• The experiment showed that the vortices can reach superluminal speeds as they approach and annihilate each other.
• The discovery provides a powerful technological tool for mapping the motion of delicate nanoscale phenomena in materials.