Trade, climate top agenda

Visiting Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt urged the European Union (EU) and China to jointly combat protectionism and global warming - pressing issues when Stockholm takes the six-month EU presidency from July.

Speaking at China Foreign Affairs University, Bildt said his home country is "in a critical position" to take the EU's helm during a "critical period".

"The worst that could happen now is for politicians in different countries to give in to populist pressure to prompt protectionist policies," he said.