China's ambassador to Sweden, Cui Aimin, is being recalled after four years in the role. He was thanked by King Carl XVI Gustaf during a farewell audience at the Royal Palace. Unlike his aggressive predecessor, Cui has been relatively quiet during his tenure in Sweden.
China's embassy in Sweden has not communicated why Ambassador Cui Aimin is leaving the country after four years, and their website is not functioning. On the embassy's active X account, with posts as recent as Monday, there is no mention of the recall. Expressen has sought comment from the Swedish Foreign Ministry.
Today, a farewell audience was held with King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Palace. The court confirms: 'In the same way that an ambassador is received in a solemn audience by the King when the ambassador assumes his duties in Sweden, a similar, though somewhat less formal, meeting takes place when the ambassador ends his service in Stockholm.'
Cui Aimin succeeded Cui Congyou, known as the 'wolf warrior,' whose time in Sweden was marked by hostile statements against Swedish media and companies like H&M. Congyou was summoned to the Foreign Ministry several times due to his rhetoric. In 2021, the Left Party, Christian Democrats, and Sweden Democrats demanded his expulsion after he threatened journalist Jojje Olsson via email with 'consequences' for his investigations of China.
In contrast, Cui's four years have been quiet. Expressen has reported on him only a handful of times, mostly in cultural or debate pieces. Only once, in November 2022, did he warn Sweden of 'consequences' if the Taiwan issue is pressed.