Exclusive Interview: Swedish Prime Minister on China-Sweden cooperation

World
Europe

By CGTN's Tian Wei and Ding Dai

Sweden was the first western country to establish diplomatic ties with China. Today, bilateral relations are stable and healthy with progress made in various fields.

CGTN’s Tian Wei spoke to Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven who shared his thoughts on China-Sweden cooperation.

CGTN's Tian Wei together with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven in Davos. /VCG Photo

Löfven said combating climate change is one of the key goals both countries are working on.

“When we cooperate in the Arctic Council, we see the climate issue very clearly because if we do not handle this in a good way, we see the ice melting. By doing so, we also understand we need to cooperate on other issues. How do we develop new technology for example.”

Löfven said Sweden attaches importance to cooperation with China within bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

“We look at the same issues from different perspectives. But it concerns the most important things all the time. Today, it is definitely climate and making sure globalization works for everybody.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven in Beijing, June 26, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Löfven said that another key in China-Sweden cooperation is security.

“How do we avoid war? How do we decrease tensions in regions all over the world? How do we build common security? We as a country right now, we are increasing our military capacity because it is needed. We are looking at our neighborhood, what’s happening. We need to do that.”

In the long term, Löfven believes that building bridges and developing dialogue is more important. And he said China and Sweden have a good dialogue mechanism.

China is currently Sweden's largest trading partner in Asia and trade with China has consistently increased in recent years. Apart from the approximately 10,000 Swedish companies trading with China, there are more than 500 Swedish companies established in China.

4km