In 1950, Sweden was the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
On 14 January 1950 the following telegram was sent from the then Swedish foreign minister Östen Undén to Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of the People's Republic of China and concurrently the inaugural Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The telegram reads: “I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the Government of Sweden in view of the fact that the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China now effectively controls the greater part of the territory of China have decided to recognise de jure the Central People’s Government as the Government of China. The Government of Sweden are prepared to establish diplomatic relations on the basis of equality and mutual respect of sovereignty territorial integrity and established practises of international law and order.”
Diplomatic relations between our two countries were established on 9 May the same year, making Sweden the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. The celebrations of 75 years of diplomatic relations will continue throughout the year – please keep an eye out for further updates!
