Swedish Minister Demands Release of Publisher Gui Minhai

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard visited Beijing on the anniversary of publisher Gui Minhai's detention. She met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the trip. The minister stated she clearly demanded Gui Minhai's immediate release during their meeting.

Gui Minhai disappeared ten years ago during a vacation in Thailand. The Chinese-Swedish publisher has been imprisoned in China since then, except for a few months in 2017. Chinese courts sentenced him to ten years in prison in 2020 for allegedly supplying intelligence to foreign powers.

Malmer Stenergard declined to share China's specific response about Gui Minhai. She acknowledged the case has created ongoing difficulties in Swedish-Chinese relations. The minister called the publisher's detention a major obstacle between the two countries.

During the same meeting, China announced it will grant visa-free travel to Swedish citizens. This will allow Swedes to visit China for short stays without applying for visas. Malmer Stenergard welcomed this development as positive for Swedish businesses operating in China.

The visa policy change addresses what companies have requested for easier operations. It removes current administrative hurdles for Swedish enterprises. This practical measure contrasts with the unresolved Gui Minhai case that continues to strain diplomatic ties.

Gui Minhai's situation represents the challenges Western countries face when dealing with China's judicial system. The simultaneous announcement of visa-free travel shows China's willingness to improve economic relations while maintaining its position on sensitive cases.