Vice Premier says China willing to set an example of international cooperation with Switzerland
China is willing to push forward the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership and set an example of international cooperation with Switzerland, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said on Monday.
Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Guy Parmelin, vice president of the Federal Council and head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research in Switzerland.
Ding is in the country to attend the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos.
Noting that Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, Ding emphasized that over the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Switzerland relations have stood the test of time and made great progress.
The two sides have jointly cultivated a spirit of equality, innovation and win-win cooperation, Ding said.
Noting that friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between both countries align with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the common expectations of the international community, Ding said China is willing to work with Switzerland to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and further strengthen the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership.
Ding added the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and set an example of political mutual trust, strengthen complementarity to achieve mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, as well as deepen people-to-people exchanges and adhere to multilateralism to advance international cooperation.
Speaking of China’s economic development, Ding reiterated the nation’s commitment to creating a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, ensuring equal treatment of foreign-funded enterprises.
He expressed China’s readiness to work with all parties to make the “pie” of mutually beneficial cooperation bigger and deliver more development benefits worldwide.
Echoing Ding, Parmelin agreed that Switzerland and China have maintained constructive dialogue, consolidated sound mutual trust, maintained frequent exchanges in various fields at all levels, and achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation.
Parmelin also said both countries have complementary economic advantages and extensive common interests, noting the huge potential for cooperation in innovation, finance, digital transformation, higher education, vocational training, health care and old-age care, as well as addressing climate change issues.
Parmelin emphasized Switzerland’s willingness to enhance communication and coordination with China on multilateral affairs and jointly cope with global challenges.
While thanking China for visa exemption for Swiss citizens, Parmelin said Switzerland welcomes more Chinese tourists.
Switzerland is willing to further facilitate personnel exchanges between the two sides and enhance bilateral friendship, Parmelin added.
CGTN
(Cover via CFP)
