Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard will visit China this week “to promote Swedish priorities regarding economics, trade and security policy.”  Unfortunately, the announcement makes no mention of human rights, stating only that Sweden welcomes cooperation with China “where possible and in line with our interests and values.”

If human rights really are a cornerstone of Sweden’s foreign policy, they should be an integral part of the planned conversations in Beijing – beginning with renewed efforts to bring Swedish book publisher Gui Minhai home. Ten years ago this week, Chinese authorities snatched Gui in Thailand in an outrageous act of cross-border kidnapping. Gui remains unjustly imprisoned, his situation unknown. The Chinese government has claimed he gave up his Swedish citizenship and has denied him consular visits as required by international law.  

The blatant abuses in Gui’s case exemplify deepening repression taking place throughout China under President Xi Jinping, which Human Rights Watch and others have extensively documented.

Some of the most severe abuses are occurring in Xinjiang, where Chinese authorities have committed crimes against humanity against the region’s 11 million Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims, including unlawfulimprisonment, ethnic and religious persecution, and forced labor.

While Sweden has spoken out on these abuses, these efforts need to be consistent. Last year, Sweden led a joint statement at the United Nations urging the Chinese government to implement recommendations from the UN’s landmark 2022 report on violations in Xinjiang. Swedish officials should amplify these calls in high-level meetings with European and other governments. Malmer Stenergard should also reinforce these concerns with the Chinese government this week and press for an end to abuses in Xinjiang.

Gui’s case highlights the Chinese government’s transnational repression, abuses aimed at intimidating and monitoring dissidents abroad, including in Sweden. The government also threatened a well-known Swedish journalist for reporting critically on China. Malmer Stenergard should show strong support for independent journalism by bringing Swedish journalists on the trip and holding a news conference in Beijing or immediately upon return.

While this week marks 10 years since Gui’s abduction, it is also the 75th anniversary of Sweden-China diplomatic ties. Malmer Stenergard should use this opportunity to reaffirm that human rights are central not only to Swedish foreign policy, but also to Sweden-China relations.