Visiting President Hu Jintao on Sunday hailed the rapid
development of business ties between China and Sweden and called
for further efforts to enlarge bilateral economic and trade
cooperation.
Speaking at a welcome dinner hosted by the Sweden-China Trade
Council, Hu said that despite the great distance between the two
countries, the Chinese and Swedish peoples have a long history of
exchanges.
"Thanks to our joint efforts over the past half century and
more, the China-Sweden relationship has matured. It is flourishing
and is as good as it has ever been," he said.
The expanding business and trade ties are an important aspect of
China-Sweden relations, Hu said, adding that the two-way trade
volume reached US$6.73 billion in 2006, almost doubling that of
2000.
"China has been Sweden's largest trading partner in Asia for
four years running. There are active mutual investments and
technological exchanges, covering shipping, telecommunications,
machinery, light industry, environmental protection and many other
areas," he said.
Hu said that there are 844 Swedish investment projects in China
by April 2007, with a total paid-in capital of US$1.39 billion.
China has signed 1,138 contracts worth US$10.2 billion to import
Swedish technologies and equipment.
Hu said that more than ten Chinese companies are making
investment or doing business here in Sweden.
Hu, who arrived in Stockholm on Friday for a three-day state
visit, also applauded the Sweden-China Trade Council for its
contribution to the development of trade and business ties between
the two countries over the last two decades or more.
"Many of its members, such as Ericsson, Volvo, Tetra Pak,
Electrolux and Ikea, are successful in China. They have not only
expanded market share in China and strengthened bilateral trade and
business cooperation but also brought much benefit to our peoples,"
he said.
Hu noted that businesses are the main participants in business
and trade exchanges between China and Sweden and a major force
driving the growth of bilateral relations.
"It is my sincere hope that the business communities of our two
countries will join hands and break new ground in China-Sweden
trade and business cooperation," Hu said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2007)
