China's foreign minister visits Sweden amid sensitive relations

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is undertaking a Nordic tour, with a stop in Sweden marking the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister in 22 years. Wang Yi, a trusted confidant of President Xi Jinping and a member of the Communist Party's Politburo, holds significant influence.

“

He is a person who is close to China's President Xi Jinping and has his trust.

The trip comes at a delicate time for China's relationship with the European Union. The EU is contemplating further actions against what it perceives as subsidized Chinese exports, a development that could escalate into a trade war, which China is keen to avoid. Through this tour, China aims to persuade the EU and individual member states against pursuing such protectionist measures.

“

China's relationship with the EU is in a rather sensitive phase as the EU considers further measures to counter what it sees as subsidized Chinese exports.

Nordic countries, recognized for their advanced economies, are also areas of interest for Chinese cooperation. China hopes that nations like Sweden, traditionally proponents of free trade, will use their influence within the EU to prevent protectionist actions. However, Sweden has also indicated a growing willingness to counter unfair competition from China.

“

China absolutely does not want this. So they simply want to convince the EU, and also individual member states in various ways, that this is not the right path to take.

During the visit, Swedish officials plan to raise concerns about China's role in enabling Russia's war against Ukraine and the case of Gui Minhai, a Swedish publisher imprisoned for over a decade. While China is accustomed to such criticism regarding the war, its receptiveness to these points, particularly concerning Gui Minhai's release, remains uncertain. Sweden maintains that addressing Gui Minhai's situation is a fundamental issue for any Swedish government.

“

Absolutely, China hopes that countries that are traditionally skeptical of measures that smell of protectionism will use their influence within the EU to prevent this from happening.