
On March 21, 2013, Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao held consultations with Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Frank Belfrage in Beijing.
Song said that the current Sino-Swedish relations are developing well, and bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, sustainable development, innovation, science and education has been advanced continuously. The two sides should make joint efforts to continue to enhance political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation, promote cultural exchanges, strengthen communication in international affairs, properly handle and accommodate each other's core concerns, so as to push bilateral relations to a new level.
Belfrage said that Sweden attaches importance to developing relations with China and is willing to work with it to strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels, promote pragmatic cooperation and open up new prospects for bilateral relations.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.