Cuerpo (Thursday, 3:30 PM)

We have to step up our defense and security spending or investment.

What we intend to do is to consider China not only as a competitor or as a rival in many areas but also as a potential partner. We want to open up the Chinese market to our products and to the extent possible also attract Chinese investments, but always within the umbrella of our economic security agenda.

It's not that the core mission [of the IMF and World Bank] has changed, it’s that basically the risks that the Fund is there to protect us from—including, of course, financial instability or imbalances—actually have different driving factors.

There is an acceleration now in terms of really getting to the strategic autonomy that comes out of having our own digital currency… We need to push for [a digital euro] as fast as we can.

Europe being a safe haven or an element of stability within the system is good news for everyone. So being an anchor in uncertain times is… positive news for the European Union.

Carlos Cuerpo Spanish Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business