Ties with Sweden must be built on mutual respect, envoy says

China and Sweden must develop their ties on the basis of equality and mutual respect, Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou said, urging "some forces" in Sweden to drop their "condescending attitude" toward China.

Gui made the remark in an interview with a Swedish news media outlet, according to a transcript the embassy released on Tuesday.

Chinese people have always kept in mind that Sweden was the first Western country to establish diplomatic ties with China, and they have held friendly feelings toward the Swedish people, Gui said.