In just a few decades, China has developed into a major power with the world’s second largest economy. China is an important trading partner for Sweden and Swedish business has historically had a high presence in China. However, the Chinese market has become increasingly challenging, partly due to lower growth and fiercer competition in China, but perhaps above all due to an increasingly harsh political climate and growing geopolitical tensions.
China’s influence in the global context is growing, while Western aid actors are cutting back on their assistance. China is a major lender and financier of infrastructure projects in Africa and Asia. Like other aid actors, China is keen to support initiatives that align with its own priorities and interests. Since 2022, China has launched a number of new global initiatives, such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilisation Initiative, and the Global AI Governance Initiative. In addition, China has gained growing influence in various UN bodies and organisations and in 2020 led four of the fifteen UN organisations (FAO, UNIDO, ITU, ICAO).
Increased knowledge of China’s global ambitions and influence is crucial to understanding its role as a multilateral actor and how this affects Swedish aid. EBA has therefore started work on an anthology focusing on China as an aid actor and its importance for Sweden and Swedish aid. The anthology will consist of approximately 10-12 chapters written by different authors. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, China as a multilateral actor, environmental issues and the green transition, aid for trade, innovation and digitalisation, and China’s influence on international norms. The anthology is expected to be finalised in early 2026.
Editors:
Malin Oud and Oscar Almén
Chair of the reference group:
Lars Niklasson
Project managers at EBA:
Malin Ahrne and Ravneet Singh