China’s increasingly active foreign policy has triggered reactions in Europe. In this year’s foreign declaration, it was announced that the government will develop a Chinese strategy. What approach should Sweden have to the growing great power in terms of economy, national security, climate and human rights?

China is the world’s second largest economy. In line with the country’s rapid growth, trade with the outside world and foreign investment has increased significantly. This is combined with a more active foreign policy expressed in President Xi Jinping’s prestigious Belt and Road Initiative project, a global vision to rebuild the global economy through infrastructure building, trade and political agreements. Sweden is affected by this development. Swedish players want to attract Chinese investments and export more to China. At the same time, some experts and politicians mean that Sweden has been naïve to possible risks with Chinese investments. The relationship is also characterised by the case with Swedish publisher Gui Minhai, who is being held prisoner in China since he was kidnapped in Thailand in the fall of 2015. What opportunities and risks does China’s global ambitions set for Sweden?

Mistra Geopolitics’ co-director and senior research fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute, Karl Hallding will be a panelist together with:

• Åsa Malmström Rognes, Researcher, Uppsala University
• Björn Fägersten, Program Manager, Department of Foreign Affairs
• Viking Boman, Analyst, Foreign Affairs Institute

Read the full program on the official Almedalen website.

Featured photo: Poltikerveckan Almedalen/Flickr