[…] Our relationship with China should be open minded, honest and of a multi-dimensional nature. China is an integrated part of the global economy and an indispensable part of the solution to many global problems. We need to cooperate with China on fighting climate change, on improving biodiversity, global health, disarmament and conflict resolution. And numerous other issues of mutual concern.
If we don’t, the world will become a more dangerous place for all of us. But this must be a two-way street. We expect China to engage on substance and deliver on its commitments.
With this ambition in mind, Sweden established the National China Centre and will continue to invest in expertise, providing independent insights on China. Contacts also at the political level are important for keeping channels open and avoiding unnecessary misunderstandings.
We also want to deepen personal contacts between our societies. Despite all the restrictions on democratic freedoms, the Chinese society is rich and dynamic, and we should learn to know it better – from boardrooms to living rooms to social media chat rooms. […]
Together with likeminded partners, we stand up for democracy and international law. We will continue to address human rights violations in China, including in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong. The same goes for the consular case of Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, which remains a priority for the new government and the entire EU. We demand for him to be released immediately. And my thoughts, and those of my fellow Swedes, are with his daughter, Angela Gui.
In terms of trade, we pursue a level playing field and fair, rules-based competition. And we welcome China to engage more constructively in international organisations. One lesson we have learnt since China’s accession to the WTO in 2001 is that we need to implement tools to address unfair competition.
In practice, de-risking means being aware of vulnerabilities and reducing excessive dependencies that may have implications for our economies and for national security.
That is not to enforce hostile policies towards China. On the contrary, it’s simply what all countries – including China – would do to safeguard their national interests. […]
As for Taiwan, let me underline our concern regarding the escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. It affects not only the people of Taiwan and the security of partners in the region but also Europe. Any crisis as a result of an attempt to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait using force would have very far-reaching consequences.
The EU’s One China Policy remains unchanged. But we continue to be impressed by the democratic as well as economic development of Taiwan, and we remain keen to further develop our relations. Läs talet