5.9 Culture and media Culture and international cultural ties play a prominent role in building relations with other countries and contribute to the promotion of both democracy and trade. Cultural exchanges and people-to-people links with China are therefore important. The Government will continue to stimulate exchanges using our own values as the point of departure. • • 6 Important to our cultural exchanges with China are our national cultural policy objectives, the promotion of long-term and mutual cultural interactions and exchanges, diversity of cultural expressions and the strengthening of Sweden’s image abroad. The Government will always stand up for freedom of expression and artistic freedom in cultural exchanges with China. Emphasis should be placed on activities that strengthen Sweden’s core values and matters of mutual interest. The cultural institutions and Sweden’s Counsellors for Cultural Affairs at missions abroad will continue to play an important role, including through expert exchanges and network promotion. The work ahead The EU is our most important foreign policy arena and a strong and united EU is crucial in relations with China. The Government will work to ensure that China’s development and relations with China are taken into account in all relevant parts of EU work. This applies to policy areas such as security and defence policy, trade, technology, innovation and digital transformation, climate and environment, multilateral cooperation and human rights. The Government sees a need to strengthen the combined expertise brought to the work on matters relating to China. Coordination on matters concerning Sweden’s relations with China needs to be enhanced. Networks with relevant counterparts primarily in the EU need to be strengthened. Relations with China should also be actively considered in other bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Sweden’s missions abroad play a key role in monitoring China’s growing global presence. The Government also sees a need for investing in knowledge of China throughout our society. The Government will work to increase collaboration and information-sharing on China, for example between agencies, between national and local levels, within the EU, and with business, academia, trade union organisations and civil society. The Government is initiating efforts to clarify how improved acquisition of knowledge can best be achieved, how current expertise on China in Sweden can be better coordinated and strengthened, and how this approach can gain broader support. This work includes preparing for the establishment of a national research-based knowledge centre on China. 20