Manila, March 8 -- A Swedish lawmaker wants increased trade between Sweden and the Philippines, seeing the role the country could play in Stockholm's "de-risking" agenda.

De-risking had been a buzzword in the West as more and more countries, including European states, deem it necessary to reduce dependency or reliance on a single supplier or country.

"Sweden and the European Union is dedicated to derisking from China and to enhance our relations with alternative countries -- countries that can take up and have more trade with Sweden, with the European Union," visiting Member of the Swedish Parliament Joar Forsell said in a roundtable discussion in Makati City on Friday.

Sweden, being a neighbor of Ukraine, is well-aware of the increasi...