Photo: Guo Yingguang

By Zhang Xin

Some countries celebrate anniversaries with champagne and banquets, others with ceremony and pageants. But Sweden is doing it in a quite different way. Besides a gala dinner at the Sofitel Wanda, honored by the presence of His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, the King of Sweden, they have also launched the "Sweden China Innovation Week." The event, organized by the embassy of Sweden and a number of leading Swedish companies in China, celebrates the 60th anniversary of Sweden-China diplomatic relations.

At this milestone in bilateral relations, His Excellency Mikeal Lindström, ambassador of Sweden, accepted an exclusive interview with the Global Times, talking about the special relationship China and Sweden share and why Sweden is keen to promote innovation worldwide.

What are your thoughts on the development of the Sino-Swedish relationship?

China and Sweden have shared centuries of friendly and beneficial relations. Then after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Sweden became the first Western country to set up diplomatic relations with China, in May 1950. Then in 1978, Sweden was again the first Western country to sign an agreement about technological and industrial cooperation with China. Now our people interact in countless ways. For example, there are several thousand Chinese students studying in Sweden. And Chinese has become the second biggest language for learning in Sweden. And there is a big potential for much more interaction in the future.

Do you think there are any similarities between Chinese and Swedish culture?

Well, the size of the nations makes things very different. And we have totally different histories. But I do think both countries have a very tolerant and open culture. And both cultures value teamwork highly. And the most similarity I can feel is how people are in ordinary life, like you and me. I mean, how people talk and relate to each other.

China and Sweden have a lot of commercial cooperation. Why do you think that is?

Ever since I came to China, I've heard the word "win-win" a lot. I think this concept, which is opposed to zero sum game thinking, can well explain the close cooperation between us. For China, Sweden is an open market. We are not protectionist. If you go shopping in Stockholm, the capital, you'll find a lot of Chinese products sold everywhere. On the other hand, Swedish people are very internationalized and open-minded. The first Swedish company in China was Ericsson, as far back as 1884 in Shanghai. In addition, we've been willing to make high-technology investments in China and to make serious commitments to Chinese society. We were the first country in the world to sign an agreement with the Chinese government about Corporate Social Responsibilities in 2007. And for years, Swedish companies in China have done a lot to improve the working environment and take their corporate citizenship very seriously.

There are over 1,500 Swedish enterprises investing in China; what do you think is the most important influence they've brought to China?

What they've brought to China is technology and how to operate internally. I think Swedish companies have a special way of managing people. Instead of giving orders and telling people what to do, we give authority as well as problems. Employees are delegated and empowered to solve the problems drawing on their own ideas. The atmosphere in Swedish companies is quite informal, not hierarchical. People are encouraged to disagree with their boss. We want to make people think by themselves.

Do you think China can be innovative as well? What do you think of China's younger generations?

Look, China is a nation famous for its innovation in its past history. I find Chinese young people are very quick-minded and adaptable. And I'm amazed by how fast they spread the English language. There are a lot of young people, who like you, speak very good English. And they are very much hooked up to the Internet. I know some of them are addicted to net games, but most of them, I believe, know how to use the Internet to learn about the world.

How do you think Chinese people can fill the blank of winning a Nobel Prize?

"Why are Chinese not getting a Nobel Prize?" That's a question I've been asked frequently when I go to speak at universities. My answer is, there is a long lag, 20 or 30 years, between making a scientific discovery and everyone in the world realizing how important it is. So it's a question of time. And I sense there is a thirst in China to re-do the education system a little bit. That's the beginning of the reform process. People want to change. You know you need critical discussion, freethinking and debating. Actually, it was my idea to bring the 72- hour innovation race here, as part of our Innovation Week. It's a serious thing, but on the surface it's fun. What we're trying to do is to illustrate the innovative process. How do innovations happen? And you can help that happen! That's a lesson for us all, that we can make our society more innovative.

You've been the ambassador of Sweden in China since 2006, how do you evaluate the social changes in China during that time?

Four years is a short time to see social change. But I think you can see it physically. The National Stadium was not here when I came; the subway system was much smaller. The city is modernizing and more beautiful. And we can see a shift of generation in four years, the mentality shift, you know. Young people are coming up. When I came, I saw there were 250 million people hooked up to the Internet, now there are 400 million.

What's your most cheerful memory of China? What will you miss most about China when you leave?

Nice people. I like talking to people here. Actually I'm very impressed by the dynamism of China. From all around, you can see that China is the most dynamic country in the world right now. As a boy, I lived in the United States, in the early 1950s. And that was the most dynamic place in the world at that time. Now I feel I'm in the most dynamic place in the world again, in the center where things are happening. There is so much potential. That's a fantastic feeling.

What are your plans when you return to Sweden?

After eight years being abroad, I will go back to Sweden this year to be an adviser to the Minister of Foreign Trade, working inside the foreign ministry. After one more year, I will retire. Then I have to find something else interesting to do. I hope then I can go back to China. I can use my experience and be helpful in China-Sweden relations in different ways. I don't think I'm ready to start to take care of my garden. I want to do more.

zhangxin@globaltimes.com. cn