STOCKHOLM -- Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf said Monday that Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visit to Sweden is sure to bear fruit.

In a joint interview with Chinese media, King Carl Gustaf said that the visit will elevate bilateral ties to a new level, and Chinese-Sweden relations will undoubtedly become closer.

He said that China-Sweden friendly relations date back to ancient times, and the Swedish royal family take great interests in Chinese history and culture.

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia first visited China at the beginning of 1980s. During their second visit to China in 2006, they attended the ceremony for the arrival of the replica of the 18th century Swedish merchant ship "Gotheborg," and held talks in Beijing with President Hu in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

Remembering their visits to China, the Swedish King and Queen said that they were deeply impressed by the hospitality of the Chinese people, the extensiveness and profoundness of the Chinese culture and the rapid development of the Chinese economy.

King Carl Gustaf said that China and Sweden have conducted effective cooperation in various areas, two-way trade between the two countries has expanded at a fast pace and the rapid development of the Chinese economy has provided Swedish businessmen and entrepreneurs with huge opportunities.

The forthcoming visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao is bound to promote the friendship between the two peoples, deepen the friendly contacts between the two countries at all levels, further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas and push China-Sweden relations to a new high.

At the invitation of Swedish King Carl Gustaf, Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Sweden from June 6 to 10.