On Wednesday morning 22 May, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling met her British colleague Lord Green. During their meeting, the trade ministers discussed bilateral trade, strengthening of the digital single market and trade in services - areas with major growth-creating potential. Swedish exports to the UK have risen substantially, from GBP 7.6 billion in 2011 to GBP 9 billion in 2012, a development attributable to the increasing interest in Sweden and Swedish products.

• Press release: Ewa Björling meets UK Trade Minister Lord Green

On 22 - 23 May, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is holding the Stockholm Internet Forum on Internet Freedom for Global Development - SIF13 - together with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Internet Infrastructure Foundation (.SE). Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will host the conference. This year, over 400 participants from more than 90 countries will be coming to SIF to discuss how internet freedom and openness can have a positive impact on human rights and development in the world.

• Article: Stockholm Internet Forum now under way
• Press release: Internet lifts developing countries
• Debate article by Carl Bildt and Cecilia Malmström: Internet freedom for more
• Article: Stockholm Internet Forum - on the importance of an open and secure internet
• Press release: Carl Bildt, Gunilla Carlsson and Anna-Karin Hatt involved in Stockholm Internet Forum 2013

On 17-19 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt visited the Öresund region, where he attended the final of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. He had also invited Catherine Ashton, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for talks in connection with the final.

• Ashton and Bildt attended the Eurovision final in Malmö

On 22 - 23 May, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is holding the Stockholm Internet Forum on Internet Freedom for Global Development - SIF13 - together with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Internet Infrastructure Foundation (.SE). Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will host the conference. This year, over 400 participants from more than 90 countries will be coming to SIF to discuss how internet freedom and openness can have a positive impact on human rights and development in the world.

• Article: SIF13 kicks off on 22 May
• Article: Stockholm Internet Forum on the importance of an open and secure internet
• Programme for SIF13

On 15 May, ministers and delegates from the eight Arctic states, representatives of the indigenous peoples in the Arctic region, researchers and observers will gather in Kiruna. The ministerial meeting will be attended by around 300 people and marks the end of the Swedish chairmanship and the start of the Canadian chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

• Press release: Arctic Council presents vision for future cooperation in the Arctic
• Information about the ministerial meeting on the Arctic Council website
• Carls Bildt's opening address at the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna 15 May 2013
• Article: Carl Bildt hosts Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna
• Article: Ministerial meeting in Kiruna concludes two intensive years as Chair of the Arctic Council
• Debate article by Carl Bildt: Northern Beacon
• Press release: Welcome to the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting

On Tuesday 14 May, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will receive US Secretary of State John F. Kerry in Stockholm for talks. Current foreign policy issues will be discussed, including the disturbing developments in Syria, the possibility of creating new momentum in the Middle East peace process and the international community's future engagement in Afghanistan. Other topics on the agenda include developments in the EU with focus on the economic situation, the negotiations on a future free trade agreement between the EU and the US, and the Arctic, ahead of the ministerial meeting in Kiruna that begins today.

• Webcast: Press briefing with Fredrik Reinfeldt and John F. Kerry
• Slide Show: Carl Bildt receives US Secretary of State at MFA
• Press release: Fredrik Reinfeldt and Carl Bildt receive US Secretary of State John F.Kerry

On 9-10 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling, Minister for Finance Anders Borg and Minister for EU Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson will be taking part in the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF) in Cape Town. On 5-12 May, in connection with the WEF, some of the ministers will also visit Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola and Zimbabwe.

• Article: Two ministers visit Nigeria - Sweden´s second largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa
• Article: 24-hour ministerial visit to `the Brussels of Africa´
• Article: Ministers' joint trip to expand Sweden-Africa relations
• Debate article: Positive developement in Africa is also good for Sweden
• Article: Focus on telecommunications in Angola
• Youtube: Speech at WEF by Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson
• Press release: Five ministers to take part in the World Economic Forum on Africa

The Nordic foreign ministers are meeting in Sandhamn in the Stockholm archipelago today. The meeting provides an opportunity for further discussions on Nordic cooperation, both in the UN and regarding ongoing Nordic participation in peacekeeping operations and Arctic issues.

• Press release: Bildt hosts Nordic foreign ministers meeting
• Sweden Chair of the Arctic Council

On Monday, Ewa Björling presented the Global Swede award to 24 foreign students who have chosen to study at Swedish higher education institutions. Global Swede is a joint initiative between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Institute aimed at encouraging the students to become involved in the Global Swede alumni network and, in the longer term, act as ambassadors for Sweden. These foreign students have all distinguished themselves in areas related to innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Article: Ewa Björling presented Global Swede student award
• Press release: Ewa Björling hosts Global Swede diploma ceremony