China’s President Xi Jinping told Spanish lawmakers yesterday his country would boost protection of intellectual property ahead of a G20 meeting where he faces a trade showdown with the United States.

Xi is due to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump at the gathering in Argentina this week, with Washington threatening to ramp up a trade war with Beijing if it doesn’t allay US concerns over intellectual property theft and China’s forced technology transfers.

“China will make efforts to further open its door to the outside world,” Xi told the Senate as he pays a state visit to Spain.