Two high level Chinese delegations visiting Sweden

An official Chinese high level delegation  together with their Swedish hosts in Stockholm in 1906. 

In the spring of the year 1906 a high level official Chinese delegation visited Europe. A visit to Sweden was also included in the study tour. The Chinese mandarins, among them two viceroys, arrived in Stockholm on April 22. During their stay in Sweden the Chinese guests met with Swedish officials and visited several industrial plants. 

However, the Swedish weekly Hvar 8 Dag, which published the photo above, considered it very unlikely that the visit would result in any reforms in China. 

106 years later, in 2012, another official Chinese delegation, led by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, visited Sweden. As in 1906, the Swedish hosts had included a visit to an industrial plant in the program. 

The difference was that this time the Chinese were visiting one of their own plants. Since 2010 the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group owns Sweden's probably most famous industrial brand, Volvo cars. 

As Bob Dylan used to say, The Times They Are a-Changin'...