Sweden and P.R of China Celebrate 60 Years of Diplomatic Relations

SHANGHAI, May 5 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- This year marks an important day in Sino-Swedish relations. On May 9, 1950, Sweden became the first western country to establish diplomatic relations with P.R of China, thus breaking China's diplomatic isolation with western countries. Embassies were accredited in Beijing and Stockholm.

Six decades later, the two countries' relationship has matured, and China's and Sweden's economic and trade cooperation has grown closer.

"I feel happy about the development of our relationship and the steady expansion of our relation into new areas. China is our biggest export market outside Europe and cooperation in areas such as education and research is growing every day," said Bengt Johansson, Consul-General of Sweden in Shanghai.

Bengt Johansson, being the first Swedish diplomat at the re-opened Consulate General of Sweden (1996-1999) and now on his second term as Consul-General since 2008, hopes that China and Sweden can continue nurture their relationship.

The establishment of diplomatic relations followed on negotiations that took place during several months. On January 14, 1959, Sweden's foreign minister Osten Unden sent a telegram to the foreign minister of the P.R of China, Mr Zhou Enlai, stating that the Swedish government was prepared to recognize the P.R of China. The Chinese side did not accept this as a fact until Sweden had sent a diplomat, Mr Ingvar Grauers, to Beijing to prepare the details. The establishment of relations was then made public in Beijing and Stockholm on May 9, stating that the ambassadors were Mr Torsten Hammarstrom and Mr Geng Biao.

A number of events in May will highlight this celebration. The issue will be the main topic for a meeting between H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Chinese leaders in Beijing. In Stockholm an exhibition of terra cotta warriors will be held at the Museum for Far Eastern Antiquities. In Shanghai and Beijing receptions will be held.