Premier Wen Jiabao, on his visit to Sweden, is expected to explore more opportunities for cooperation with the Swedish government, to help make China's development model a more sustainable one, said a senior Chinese diplomat.

Lan Lijun, Chinese ambassador to Sweden - the first country in the West to set up diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China - also said the visit from Monday to Wednesday would help enrich the content of the cooperation and upgrade bilateral relations in various areas.

"Wen's visit is the first by a Chinese premier in the past 28 years and it is of great importance," Lan told China Daily during an interview before Wen's visit. "This will push bilateral relations forward vigorously."

He said China is now implementing its 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) and transforming its economic pattern to an energy-saving and environmentally friendly path. Sweden is going to shake off the negative impact of the European debt crisis and realize smooth economic growth, he added.

"These have brought more and more cooperation opportunities for us," said Lan.

During the visit, Wen will meet Swedish leaders and exchange ideas on bilateral relations as well as on international and regional issues of concern. Cooperation documents and memorandums of understanding will be signed.

For future cooperation, Lan said that the two sides, based on deepened political trust, should implement a win-win strategy "at an even higher level".

He said Sweden was a pioneer of sustainable development and innovation. And even 40 years ago, it had taken the lead in environmental protection by hosting the United Nations Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Wen is scheduled to attend an international conference, Stockholm Plus 40, to mark the global event, which introduced the concept of sustainable development.

"During the years, Sweden has developed many new high technologies in sustainable development, and China should learn from Sweden," said Lan.

By focusing on sustainable development technologies, Lan said the two sides should expand cooperation in manufacturing and information technology. They should also explore research and development cooperation on renewable energy as well as energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies.

"The medium- and small-sized companies on both sides have already achieved good progress in cooperation and this should be a major front in the future," said Lan.

Over the years, Sweden and China have benefited from sound bilateral relations. Bilateral trade volume reached a record high of $13.7 billion in 2011. China is Sweden's biggest trade partner in Asia.

"Meanwhile, the two-way investment activities are active," said Lan.

Since China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group purchased Swedish carmaker Volvo in 2010, China Development Bank has signed cooperation agreements with Swedish investors on infrastructure, mineral resources and wind farms. In March, the Swedish and Finnish joint venture, Stora Enso, launched its new papermaking and afforesting project in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

"We have achieved very good cooperation on energy, the environment and sustainable development," said Lan.

He continued: "Once the bilateral political relations are sustained and deepened, I think economic and trade relations, and people-to-people exchanges will be enhanced as well."

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