By Joan Faus

BARCELONA, April 20 (Reuters) - Catalonia welcomes Chinese investments but opposes bringing in large numbers of workers from China in order to protect local jobs, the Spanish region's leader told Reuters.

The wealthy northeastern region has become a hub for Chinese investments into Spain, benefiting from the Barcelona port and government outreach to Chinese companies.

Regional leader Salvador Illa called Catalonia a "magnificent gateway into Europe" for Chinese companies, but expressed concerns about the potential arrival of foreign workers.

Chinese battery maker CATL 300750.SZ reportedly brought 2,000 Chinese workers for its plant construction in neighbouring Aragon. CATL declined to confirm the reports last year, saying the firm was still selecting its subcontractors and was open to hiring locals.

"We don't need workers from abroad to come. We already have (workers) here. The ones that want to come — we have an important Asian community — are welcomed, respecting the labour framework we have here," Illa told Reuters during a leftist gathering in Barcelona over the weekend.

Spanish union leaders have sent a similar message, acknowledging the importance of Chinese know-how but stressing that local labour laws must be maintained.

Spain's warmer relations with China, bolstered by a meeting in Beijing last week between Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and President Xi Jinping, who pledged closer ties, have supported Chinese investments, said Illa, the Socialist Party leader in Catalonia who is a close ally of Sanchez.

Automaker Chery plans to open its first European factory in Barcelona, although the project is behind schedule. Reuters reported last year China's No. 1 automaker BYD 002594.SZ considers Spain as the top candidate to host its new car factory in Europe, with Catalonia being a potential location.

Catalonia ranks as the Spanish region with the largest number of new investment projects from China, totalling 24 in 2020 to 2024, a quarter of Spain's total, according to Catalonia's trade promotion agency.

Chinese investment in Catalonia reached 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in 2020 to 2024, a more than fourfold rise from the previous five years.
($1 = 0.8501 euros)