Sinologist: The Gui Minhai conflict can affect Swedish cultural councils

Is there a cultural exchange between Sweden and China?

- It's been quite a long time, ever since China opened up in the 1980s. It is about different types of cultural practitioners such as musicians, artists and writers of course. Book translations have increased quite a lot in recent years.

Is it a big exchange compared to other countries?

- It is not possible to compare with Europe or the US, but it is increasing anyway.

Fredrik Fällman's picture is shared by Mathias Lafolie, cultural council at the Swedish Embassy in Beijing. He believes that the official cultural exchange in which the embassy is involved is relatively extensive. For example, a Swedish Film Festival is inaugurated in the city of Shenyang nowadays. However, Mathias Lafolie does not want to speculate on whether the threats from Gui Congyou will mean anything for the cultural exchange between the countries.

Fredrik Fällman believes that there may be realistic threats that may affect Swedish cultural practitioners.

- It could mean preventing people from visiting China. It is often the case that you do not refuse a visa, but you pull out the time it takes to get a visa. So the time passes for what you would do, you can't get there anyway. It is a very real threat not to give a visa.

Is it only cultural practitioners who are affected, or can this affect others?

- Then there is also the question of a new Swedish cultural council in Beijing, the current holder is about to end. The process of appointing a new cultural council is ongoing, if one were to be appointed soon, then the Chinese state can say that we do not want it, and refuse to give accreditation to China.