Chinese and Swedish companies signed nine contracts and framework agreements during a visit by a Chinese trade and investment promotion mission to Sweden on Wednesday and Thursday.

More than 300 representatives from the business communities of both countries attended on Wednesday the China-Sweden Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum with the theme "Enhanced cooperation for mutual benefits and win-win."

"The forum is a great platform for companies in our countries, and it's like a bridge between us," Gunnar Wieslander, Swedish State Secretary to the Minister for Trade, said in his keynote speech.

He said there was a lot of cooperation between China and Sweden, and it was of significance that the Chinese mission had come to Sweden despite the global financial crisis.

Sweden will further promote business cooperation with China, he said.

Gao Hucheng, Vice Minister of Commerce and head of the mission, said Sweden has become China's second largest trading partner and largest source of foreign investment and technology in Northern Europe.

"The mission reaffirms China's opposition to trade and investment protectionism and its confidence and determination to jointly tackle the crisis with European countries including Sweden," he said.

Representatives from both countries exchanged opinions on such issues as trade promotion, bilateral investment, sustainable development and environmental protection.

The two framework agreements signed by Swedish telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson and China's two main telecom companies -- China Mobile and China Unicom, are valued at 1.7 billion U.S. dollars.

This is China's fourth such trade mission to Europe this year. The present mission is composed of more than 200 delegates from more than 110 enterprises in 20 provinces and municipalities.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2009)