Wang Yi's visit to Sweden: Gui Minhai's fate and health become focus; China assures he is well

The visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Sweden on February 4th brought the case of Swedish citizen Gui Minhai into sharp focus. While the official agenda centered on trade and security issues, the whereabouts and well-being of Gui Minhai, a publisher imprisoned in China, dominated discussions.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard conveyed to the media after the meeting that China assured Gui Minhai's health is not in question. However, Sweden remains committed to pursuing his release. This marks the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Sweden in 22 years, highlighting the significance of the current diplomatic engagement.

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We are very pleased to be able to have a dialogue with the Chinese side, even though we have different views on this issue.

Gui Minhai, who disappeared in Thailand in 2015 and later appeared in China, was initially sentenced for a traffic offense. After his release, he was detained again in 2018 while traveling to Beijing for medical treatment with a Swedish diplomat. In 2020, he received a 10-year sentence for providing intelligence to foreign entities, in a trial that lacked transparency and legal representation.

Despite Sweden's efforts to improve relations with China, including a planned visit by Minister Stenergard to Beijing in 2025, Gui Minhai's release has seen no progress. His daughter, Angela Gui, has publicly appealed for answers, expressing frustration over the lack of information regarding her father's location and health, and criticizing the Swedish government's approach.

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The Chinese side has stated that Gui Minhai's health is good.