Sweden was the first Western country to recognise the People’s Republic of China as the legitimate government over mainland China. On January 14, 1950, Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Östen Undén, sent a telegram to Zhou Enlai, Minister of the People’s Republic of China in in which he stated:
“Monsieur Chou En – lai Minister for Foreign Affairs Central People’s Government People ‘s Republic of China, Peking.
“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 or the territory of China have decided to recognize 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 end mutual respect of sovereignty territorial integrity and established practices of international law and order.”
The members of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden participated in this celebration in Stockholm hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Sweden, and produced this short video.