On May 14, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Cui Aimin published an Op-ed in the “Essays of Ambassadors” column of People's Daily titled Creating a Brighter Future for China-Sweden Relations. The full text is as follows.
On May 9, 2025, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the past 75 years, China-Sweden relations have remained generally stable, and the two countries’ cooperation in economy and trade, science and technology, as well as education and culture has continued to expand and has achieved positive results. Together, China and Sweden have written a splendid chapter of friendship.
Transcending time and space, the friendship between China and Sweden continues to thrive with renewed vitality. Though separated by thousands of miles, the two countries share a long history of friendly exchanges. Sweden is an important stop on the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Over 280 years ago, Swedish merchant ships—most notably the Götheborg—sailed between the two countries, bringing Swedish black lead, coarse wool, and other goods to China, and returning with tea, silk and porcelain. These early voyages opened the prelude to the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Swedish peoples. In 1950, Sweden became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Driven by innovation, the practical cooperation between China and Sweden has yielded fruitful results. The economic and trade cooperation between China and Sweden has a solid foundation and covers a wide range of fields. The two sides have remained each other’s largest trading partner in the Nordic region and Asia respectively for many years. In 2024, China-Sweden bilateral trade continued to grow. Two-way investment was generally stable while gaining momentum, with China’s investments in Sweden increasing by 70% year-on-year. Chinese high-tech companies have contributed to Sweden’s economic growth and green transition, while more than 10,000 Swedish companies are engaged in trade with China. Swedish companies such as IKEA, Ericsson, and Volvo have established a strong presence in the Chinese market. Last year, a record number of Swedish enterprises participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE). Universities, research institutions and start-ups from both countries have enhanced communication and collaboration in fields such as natural sciences, engineering, and artificial intelligence. The creativity, wisdom and expertise of diverse talents continue to serve as a lasting driving force behind the win-win cooperation between the two sides.
Through exchanges and mutual learning, the dialogue between Chinese and Swedish civilizations has grown rich and diverse. China and Sweden have active exchanges in fields such as science and technology, culture, and education, fostering the harmonious exchanges and joint development of Eastern and Western civilizations. Sweden is the largest destination for Chinese students studying abroad in the Nordic region, and it is attracting more and more Chinese tourists. Interest among the Swedish people in Chinese history and culture continues to grow, with Chinese food festivals, folk music and dance performances, art exhibitions, and other cultural events receiving widespread acclaim locally. The increasingly close cultural exchanges have built a solid bridge for the two peoples, fostering deeper connection and showing greater vitality.
China and Sweden have complementary industrial advantages and huge potential for cooperation. Since last year, the 7th meeting of China-Sweden Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation and the 21st meeting of China-Sweden Joint Committee on Economic, Industrial and Technical Cooperation were held successively, and the two sides have established a working group on green transition investments. China will further deepen reform comprehensively and expand high-standard opening up, and will work with Sweden to explore the potential for cooperation, share development opportunities, and open a new chapter of mutual benefit between the two countries. Together, the two countries can make greater contributions 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 Chinese and Swedish peoples is like amber washed ashore by the Baltic Sea—growing ever more radiant with the passing of years. Taking the 75th anniversary as an opportunity, China is ready to work with Sweden to further enhance political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and support multilateralism and free trade, so as to bring more benefits to the people of the two countries, and make greater contributions to world peace and prosperity.