Chinese FM to visit Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway; Nordic engagement reflects recognition of China's role in advancing multilateral co-op, says expert

At the invitation of Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, and Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will visit the four countries from July 2 to 8, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

Asked about China's views on relations with Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway and expectations for Wang's upcoming visits, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday at a regular press conference that the four countries are among the first European countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations 

Guo said recent years have seen steady and robust development of relations between China and the four countries, with fruitful cooperation in green transition, trade and investment, and sci-tech innovation, and broad-based consensus on upholding multilateralism and free trade and joint response to global challenges, including climate change.

During the visit, Wang will hold talks with his counterparts in the four countries respectively to have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, the spokesperson said.

Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the visit is expected to not only focus on international issues, but also on deepening cooperation in areas such as green transition, innovation and trade, while reaffirming shared support for multilateralism and free trade at a time of global uncertainty.

Although bilateral relations between China and the four countries may have encountered some challenges, policies among the Nordic countries on China are now showing a trend toward returning to pragmatism. This is a reflection of their recognition of China's important role in advancing multilateral cooperation, Feng said.

At the press conference, spokesperson Guo outlined the strategic positioning of China's bilateral relations with the four countries respectively. He said that Denmark is China's comprehensive strategic partner in Northern Europe, adding that this will be the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Denmark in 15 years, and the first high-level face-to-face meeting after the new Danish government took office. China hopes to consolidate mutual trust, expand cooperation and deepen friendship with Denmark through the visit to open up new prospects for the China-Denmark comprehensive strategic partnership, Guo said.

Sweden is China's largest trading partner in Northern Europe. The upcoming visit will be the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Sweden in 22 years. Through the visit, China looks forward to enhancing communication, deepening mutual trust and expanding cooperation with Sweden to consolidate the sound momentum of growth in bilateral relations, the spokesperson said.

China and Finland are future-oriented new-type cooperative partners. Recent years have seen successive visits to China by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Speaker of Finnish Parliament Jussi Halla-aho, and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The two sides have had close high-level exchanges and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields. China hopes that the visit will enable the two sides to better deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders and provide fresh impetus for the development of the China-Finland partnership, Guo said.

Norway is one of the first countries to recognize China's market economy status. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store visited China in 2024 as the two countries marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which gave a strong boost to the development of bilateral ties. Through the visit, China will work with Norway to deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders, have in-depth exchanges of views on green transition, global governance, and other bilateral and multilateral issues, and promote the continued steady and sound development of China-Norway relations, said Guo.

Feng said that the invitation from the four Nordic countries, together with Wang's multiple visits to Europe since the beginning of the year, symbolizes a shift in which many European countries are increasingly recognizing China's importance as a partner.

At the Munich Security Conference in February, Wang said that China and Europe are "partners, not opponents, and certainly not "systemic rivals,'" adding that "Europe's challenges do not come from China" and urging joint efforts with the EU to address global challenges.