Xi Jinping calls on China and Switzerland to strengthen economic cooperation and uphold free trade
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin in Beijing on Friday, calling on the two countries to inject confidence and greater certainty into China-Europe economic and trade cooperation and global economic development.
Xi described Switzerland as an important partner of China in Europe, noting that cooperation between the two countries has been at the forefront of China's partnerships with European countries. He said free trade cooperation had become a major highlight of bilateral relations, demonstrating both sides' commitment to openness and cooperation.
Xi stressed that economies advance through connectivity and fall behind when they become closed off. He said China was ready to work with Switzerland to uphold openness, strengthen cooperation and promote inclusive economic globalization that benefits all.
The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in innovation, the digital economy, green energy storage and artificial intelligence. Xi called for the development of high-quality industrial and supply chains based on coordination and shared benefits, as well as joint efforts to advance AI for the benefit of humanity.
The talks also addressed China-EU relations, multilateral cooperation and the international order. Xi expressed hope that Switzerland would continue to play a constructive role in promoting balanced and sustainable trade between China and the European Union. He also called for upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core and an international order based on international law.
Parmelin said Switzerland was proud to have been among the first Western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have maintained close contacts and developed cooperation in trade, investment, scientific research, innovation and employment, he said.
The Swiss president also announced that negotiations on upgrading the free trade agreement had been completed. He said the achievement reflected a high level of mutual trust and met the expectations of businesses in both countries. Parmelin reaffirmed Switzerland's commitment to the one-China policy and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with China across various fields.
Following the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a protocol on upgrading the free trade agreement, along with several cooperation documents covering scientific research, employment and the media.
According to CCTV+, the meeting underscored China and Switzerland's intention to expand economic and technological cooperation, uphold free trade and strengthen multilateral engagement.
