Beijing Builds Nordic Ties on Different Promises

When Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, met Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden’s foreign minister, in Stockholm on 4 July, he acknowledged that relations had suffered setbacks. According to China’s Foreign Ministry account, he called for rebuilding trust and focusing on positive issues. Sweden had a distinct role on Wang’s tour of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway: a relationship Beijing wanted to repair.

Four countries, four diplomatic tracks

Denmark had a more established position. It was the first Nordic country to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with China and set up a mechanism for green cooperation. At a meeting with Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Wang discussed a new work programme covering research, green shipping and healthcare. Beijing also hopes Denmark will help improve relations between China and the EU.

Finland was presented as a partner in future technologies. Chinese officials cited an action plan for 2025–2029 and highlighted the green transition and artificial intelligence. In Norway, talks with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide covered clean energy, electric vehicles and green shipping. China’s account describes Eide as opposing the “over-securitization” of economic issues—a position that aligns with Beijing’s preference to keep trade outside security restrictions.

Iceland’s geothermal connection

Iceland was not included in the tour, but has a separate diplomatic channel. In March, He Rulong, China’s ambassador to Iceland, wrote in Morgunblaðið that countries should “build bridges, not walls”. He linked that message to cooperation on geothermal energy and support for international law, multilateralism and free trade. Beijing’s public messaging on Iceland therefore focuses particularly on energy and international cooperation.

The Arctic exposes the limits

Security policy sets a boundary to the green and economic agenda. In a joint declaration in May, China and Russia opposed hybrid warfare and the expansion of military alliances, without naming specific actors or incidents. In September, Reuters reported, citing two Western officials, that British, Norwegian and US forces had tracked Russian submersibles near Svalbard during an exercise simulating the use of technology against undersea cables. No cables were damaged. Tore Sandvik, Norway’s defence minister, said the operation showed Russia that it could not operate covertly.

In October, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, was asked about the EU’s Arctic strategy. She said China’s activities complied with international law and warned against a “Cold War mentality”. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, had warned against Chinese-Russian dominance of Arctic shipping routes. Mao did not refer to the specific Svalbard report.

Beijing has offered the Nordic countries detailed plans for trade, green shipping and technology. On the Arctic, China set out a principle of lawful activity, but no joint plan to protect the infrastructure beneath the sea.