The Nordic countries have in general sought to deepen their political ties with Beijing even if strong differences exist especially on human rights and governance issues have provoked occasional clashes with some of the Nordic countries.

The Nordic countries themselves share a common geography and history as well as a set of common traits based upon political traditions and cultural affinities.

Yet they also differ from each other with respect to their foreign policy outlooks and their international institutional affiliations.

So far, the Nordic countries’ relations with Beijing have been regarded first of all as bilateral in nature, having the indirect effect that the five Sino-Nordic relationships are currently showcasing markedly different trajectories.

Indeed, the overall strength of each of the five Nordic countries’ relations with Beijing ranges from very strong (Denmark and Iceland) to very weak (Norway).

This DIIS seminar brings together China scholars from each of the five Nordic countries to present their respective countries’ relations with China.

While the presentations reflect the bilateral and fragmented character of current Sino-Nordic relations, the seminar also asks to what extent the Nordic countries share a set of common interests in their relations with China and how the Nordic countries might potentially pursue a more collaborative approach to China.

Speakers

Jyrki Kallio, Senior Research Fellow, FIIA, The Finnish Institute of International Affairs

Jerker Hellström, Senior Analyst, FOI, Swedish Defense Research Agency

Bjørnar Sverdrup-Thygeson, Research Fellow, NUPI, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs

Marc Lanteigne, Senior Research Fellow, NUPI, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs

Andreas Bøje Forsby, PhD Candidate, DIIS

Programme

Læs videre på

http://conferencemanager.events/QuintetOutofTune