China and Switzerland expressed willingness on Wednesday to officially launch negotiations on upgrading a bilateral free trade agreement, or FTA, as soon as possible, and to continue cooperation in areas including finance, science and innovation, climate change and winter sports.
Both sides are satisfied with the completion of the joint feasibility study of the upgrade of the FTA, according to a Foreign Ministry readout issued after the third round of China-Switzerland Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue, held in Beijing.
The China-Switzerland FTA was signed in 2013 and came into effect in 2014, making it Beijing's first such agreement with a country in continental Europe.
In the dialogue between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis, the two ministers pledged to continue to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, to respect each other's systems and development paths, and to consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations.
They also discussed enhancing strategic mutual trust, pragmatic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and multilateral coordination and pushing forward the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership.
Switzerland is China's sixth-largest trading partner in Europe, while Beijing remains Zurich's third-largest trading partner.
From January to November 2023, the volume of bilateral trade reached $53.44 billion, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Wang said that China hopes Switzerland will provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises operating in the country.
Cassis appreciates China's openness, saying his country always supports free trade and opposes protectionism.
Noting that Switzerland was one of the first western countries to recognize and develop relations with China, Cassis said that differences between the two countries will not affect bilateral cooperation, with ties between the two nations remaining solid and strong.
As China and Switzerland are in preparations for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, and the China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism in 2025, Cassis said that he welcomes Chinese tourists and will also facilitate visas for Chinese citizens, as well as Chinese enterprises investing in Switzerland. Last month, China announced a visa-free policy for citizens of Switzerland.
In a media conference after the dialogue, Cassis said that next year might be a good chance to sign the upgraded FTA, when the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary, so as to better promote bilateral ties and trade cooperation.
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
Movie Review: ‘Food, Inc. 2’ revisits food system, sees reason for frustration and (a little) hope
Rookie Adama Sanogo has 22 points and 20 rebounds to shatter career highs, Bulls top Wizards 129
This simple log structure may be the oldest example of early humans building with wood
Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates
Making cement is very damaging for the climate. One solution is opening in California
Eating less meat would be good for the Earth. Small nudges can change behavior
CBS says its daytime show 'The Talk' will end its run in December after 15 seasons
Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient
Joel Embiid returns from injury scare, scores 32 as 76ers beat Magic 125
Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 26
Movie Review: Bill Nighy, Michael Ward shine in Netflix’s Homeless World Cup crowd