[China and Sweden]
In 2013, the relations between the People's Republic of China and Sweden were stable and further deepened.
The two countries maintained high-level exchanges. In March, King Carl XVI Gustav and Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt sent congratulatory messages to Xi Jinping on his election as Chinese President. Prime Minister Reinfeldt sent a congratulatory message to Li Keqiang on the latter's becoming Premier of the State Council. In June, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and CPPCC Chairman Yu Zhengsheng paid an official goodwill visit to Sweden. He met with King Carl XVI, Speaker of Parliament Per Westerberg and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt. In November, King Carl XVI Gustav visited Hong Kong as the Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation. Prince Carl Philip paid an unofficial visit to China in 2013. In December, new Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Chen Yuming presented his credentials to King Carl XVI Gustav.
The two legislatures enjoyed sound exchanges. Chairman of the Friendship Association for China of the Swedish parliament Kent H?rstedt visited China. Chairman of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the NPC Liu Binjie visited Sweden.
The two countries had close exchanges at various other levels. In March, Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao held political consultations with Swedish State Secretary Frank Belfrage in Beijing. Minister for Rural Affairs Eskil Erlandsson, Minister for Enterprise Anni L??f, Minister for Public Administration and Housing Stefan Attefall, Minister for Finance Anders Borg and Minister for Information Technology and Energy Anna- Karin Hatt visited China. Vice Minister of Water Resources Hu Siyi, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Tianjin Li Yali and Vice Governor of Shanxi Du Shanxue visited Sweden.
Practical cooperation in various areas was deepened. In October, Chairman of Investor AB Jacob Wallenberg visited China. CPPCC Chairman Yu Zhengsheng met with him in Beijing. China and Sweden are each other's biggest regional trading partners. Investment cooperation made new progress. Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Volvo Group formed the world's biggest commercial vehicles alliance. In September, the third meeting of the China-Sweden Joint Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation was held in Beijing. In November, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China and the Ministry of the Environment of Sweden jointly held China-Sweden Environment Day in Beijing. In September, Administrator of China Meteorological Administration Zheng Guoguang attended the meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Sweden. Academician Qin Dahe of Chinese Academy of Sciences was awarded the Volvo Environment Prize. The two countries signed the Action Plan for Cooperation on Sustainable Vehicle Development.
People-to-people exchanges gained greater momentum. The China Festival and other large-scale cultural activities were held in Stockholm. In November, a delegation of Chinese Tibetologists visited Sweden and met with members of the Swedish parliament, government officials, university faculty and students and Chinese media organizations. Director of the Swedish Higher Education Authority Lars Haikola visited China. Military-to-military exchanges continued to strengthen. Deputy Chief of the PLA General Staff Admiral Sun Jianguo exchanged visits with Swedish Chief of Defense Staff Jan Salestrand.
By the end of 2013, there were 26 pairs of sister provinces and cities between China and Sweden.
Editor:Yaling
