11/06/2007 10:13:43 am
Which China? What kind of a country will China be tomorrow? Shortly, it will have the second largest economy in the world, growing at four times that of the US. This is the question that Western politicians should ask themselves when they meet the Chinese leaders of today. And it is the context in which one should regard the official visit by China′s President Hu Jintao to Sweden this week-end.

All the editorials focus on the abuse of human rights in China and urge politicians to condemn that in the meetings. Indeed, China is still a dictatorship and for a democrat, that can only be totally unacceptable, which should be communicated. But shaping a successful stratagy towards China is not as simple as that. How Western policians act today will affect what kind of a country it becomes. And surely, nobody wants to contribute to China becoming more hostile and authoritarian?

There may be too much politeness in the diplomatic life, and too much eagerness just to open up for more trade and accept the rest. But any strategy towards China must include an open attitude to integrate China more in the global economy and society, and straight talk about human rights. China is developing in a positive way and citizens are getting more freedom. Further international exchange should increase that further, also in the political sense.