On May 19th, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China held its 25th anniversary celebration. Ambassador Cui Aimin was invited to deliver remarks. The full text is as follows:

Your Excellency Ambassador Helena Sångeland,

Distinguished Chairman Ludvig Nilsson,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be invited to the celebration of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China (SwedCham China). At the outset, on behalf of the Embassy of China in Sweden, I would like to extend warm congratulations to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of SwedCham China, and express my heartfelt thanks to all our friends for your long-term efforts to promote China-Sweden friendship and practical cooperation.

Sweden was the first western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and also the first country to sign a bilateral investment protection agreement with China. In recent decades, Swedish enterprises have actively participated in China’s reform and opening-up and contributed to China’s economic and social development. We highly appreciate the positive role played by SwedCham China in promoting China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation.

Faced with challenges such as a sluggish global economic recovery and rising inflation, China has set a strategic goal of building a modern socialist country with Chinese characteristics through a Chinese path to modernization. To this end, we are committed to fostering a new pattern of development that is focused on the domestic economy and features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows. We are committed to promoting high-level opening up to the outside world, and achieving high-quality development. China will open its door wider, and the business environment in China will become better. There will be more and more opportunities for companies from all over the world.

In the first quarter of this year, the Chinese economy grew by 4.5%, exceeding market expectations. The numbers on consumption, production and trade are also very strong. The international community is fully confident in China’s economic development. It is foreseeable that China will inject stronger momentum into the world economy, and also provide broader space for the development of Swedish enterprises in China.

Since I came to Sweden, through extensive contacts and active exchanges with various sectors in Sweden, I have deeply felt that the directions and goals of the economic development of China and Sweden are very similar. We both attach great importance to green, low-carbon and sustainable development, and both firmly support free trade and economic globalization. Our industrial structures have their own characteristics and strengths, which make them highly complementary and make the cooperation very promising. People from various sectors in Sweden are optimistic about the prospects of China’s economic development and have a strong will to deepen economic and trade cooperation with China.

SwedCham China has a history of 25 years. It has 240 member companies and a good business reputation. It is hoped that SwedCham China will continue to work to strengthen the confidence of the Swedish enterprises in their development in China, to expand the areas of cooperation, and to further expand and strengthen themselves in the Chinese market. It is also hoped that SwedCham China will actively contribute to a good cooperation atmosphere and support the China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation and the development of bilateral relations. The Embassy of China in Sweden is willing to provide support and services for bilateral practical cooperation. Let us join hands and work actively to create a bright future for China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation and bring benefits to the two countries and the two peoples!

Thank you!