Gothenburg Port in September, with a gentle sea breeze. The antique sailboat "Gothenburg" is quietly anchored, and its towering mast seems to still tell the glorious history of Sino Swiss maritime trade more than two centuries ago.
Over 280 years ago, the Gothenburg sailed to China carrying goods such as black lead and coarse wool from Sweden. On its return journey, it was loaded with silk, tea, and porcelain and sailed back to Northern Europe along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. This trans oceanic route not only opened up the earliest trade exchanges between China and Switzerland, but also built a bridge for mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations.
On May 9, 1950, Sweden became one of the earliest Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with New China. For 75 years, both sides have always respected and treated each other equally, promoting the steady development of bilateral relations. At present, more than 600 Swedish companies are deeply cultivating and developing in the Chinese market, and nearly 10000 Swedish companies are engaged in trade with China. Swedish brands such as Volvo, Ericsson, and Scandinavia are well-known in China. Meanwhile, Chinese high-tech enterprises have also injected momentum into Sweden's green transformation and economic development. Chinese brands such as DJI, Polaris, and Jike have settled in the center of Stockholm, winning increasing recognition from Swedish consumers for their high-quality products, reasonable prices, and convenient services.
The friendly exchanges connected by a merchant ship have now grown into a comprehensive and multi-level cooperation pattern. The sincere friendship between the Chinese and Swiss people has also deepened over time.
Practical cooperation has always been the most distinctive foundation of China Switzerland relations. In recent years, the interaction between the two sides in the fields of economy, trade, technology, and green transformation has become increasingly close, and the cooperation results are gratifying. Data shows that China and Switzerland have been each other's largest trading partners in Asia and Northern Europe for several consecutive years. Since 2024, bilateral trade has maintained stable growth, and China's investment in Switzerland has increased by about 70%, with steady progress in two-way investment. The establishment of the Green Transformation Investment Working Group has added new momentum to the future cooperation between the two countries.
Technological innovation has become a new engine for China Switzerland cooperation. Both sides actively connect in cutting-edge fields such as natural sciences, engineering technology, and artificial intelligence, constantly stimulating innovation vitality. Since the beginning of this year, the Swedish Minister of Foreign Trade and several officials including the Deputy Minister of Commerce of China have exchanged visits. The 7th meeting of the China Switzerland Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation and the 21st meeting of the Joint Committee on Economy and Trade have been successfully held, fully reflecting the common willingness of the two countries to promote cooperation to a higher level.
Civilization mutual learning is the source of vitality for China Switzerland relations. Swedish sinologists Gao Benhan and Ma Yueran devoted their entire lives to the study of Sinology and the dissemination of Chinese literature, becoming an important bridge for cultural exchange between the two countries. Swedish table tennis player Waldner, actors Greta Jiabao, Ingrid Bergman, and ABBA band have also become cultural windows for Chinese people to understand Sweden.
In China, IKEA's simple and practical Nordic design and "lagom" (moderate) lifestyle philosophy allow Chinese consumers to experience a unique Nordic aesthetic. In Sweden, the Stockholm Chinese Cultural Center regularly hosts cultural events with Chinese characteristics such as food festivals, film and opera weeks, and Dragon Boat Festival and Mid Autumn Festival garden parties, attracting a large number of local residents to participate. Close exchanges in fields such as language, art, education, and sports allow the people of the two countries to meet and resonate with each other in their cultures.
The trajectory of the Gothenburg has flowed into the long river of history, but the spirit of friendship and cooperation between China and Switzerland it carries still shines brightly in the new era. Standing at a new starting point of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, China Switzerland relations have enormous potential and broad prospects. The 75 year history of communication tells us that as long as we adhere to independence, mutual respect, and mutual benefit, the China Switzerland relationship can overcome storms and move steadily towards long-term success.
Looking towards the future, both China and Switzerland can continue to promote the spirit of friendship represented by the "Gothenburg", and from the fundamental interests of the two peoples, promote in-depth exchanges and cooperation in various fields, not only injecting more stability and positive energy into China Europe relations, but also contributing wisdom and solutions to world peace and development.
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