Creating a Better Tomorrow for China-Sweden Relations

On May 9, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the past 75 years, China-Sweden relations have remained generally stable, with expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, science, technology, education, and culture, yielding positive results, and together they have created a vibrant and friendly picture.

Crossing time and space, the friendship between China and Sweden has stood the test of time. Though the two countries are separated by thousands of miles, their friendship dates back a long time. Sweden was an important node on the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Over 280 years ago, Swedish merchant fleets, represented by the 'Göteborg' ship, traveled between the two countries, bringing Swedish lead, rough wool, and other products to China, while returning with tea, silk, and porcelain. This began the close bond between the people of China and Sweden. In 1950, Sweden became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the new China, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Innovation leads the way, and pragmatic cooperation between China and Sweden has yielded fruitful results. The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is solid, covering a wide range of fields, with both countries being each other's largest trading partners in Northern Europe and Asia for many years. In 2024, bilateral trade between China and Sweden continued to grow, with mutual investment making steady progress. China's investment in Sweden increased by 70% year-on-year, and Chinese high-tech companies have helped Sweden's economic growth and green transformation.

More than 10,000 Swedish companies are engaged in trade with China, with companies such as IKEA, Ericsson, and Volvo deeply involved in the Chinese market. Last year, the number of Swedish companies participating in the China International Import Expo reached a record high. Universities, research institutions, and startups from both countries have strengthened communication and collaboration in fields such as natural sciences, engineering technology, and artificial intelligence. The creative energy of various talents is flourishing, bringing continuous momentum to win-win cooperation between the two sides.

Exchanges and mutual learning have enriched the dialogue between China and Sweden. Cooperation in science, technology, culture, and education has been active, promoting mutual integration and mutual advancement of Eastern and Western civilizations. Sweden is the largest destination for Chinese students in Northern Europe, and it is attracting more and more Chinese tourists. Swedish people's interest in Chinese history and culture continues to grow, with activities such as Chinese food festivals, ethnic dance performances, and art exhibitions receiving wide acclaim locally.

The increasingly close people-to-people exchanges between China and Sweden have built a solid bridge of mutual understanding, demonstrating vibrant vitality. The complementary industrial advantages between the two countries provide enormous potential for cooperation. Since last year, China and Sweden have held the seventh meeting of the China-Sweden Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation and the 21st meeting of the China-Sweden Economic and Trade Joint Committee, and established a working group on green transformation investment.

China will further deepen reform and expand high-level opening-up, working with Sweden to explore new cooperation opportunities, share development prospects, and open up new areas for mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation. This will contribute even more to the development of China-EU relations, world peace and development, and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The friendship between the people of China and Sweden is like amber along the Baltic Sea, becoming even more solid and brilliant over time. Taking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity, China is willing to further enhance political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, jointly support multilateralism and free trade, bring more benefits to the people of both countries, and make greater contributions to world peace and prosperity.