China and Switzerland should build long-term and stable relations for constructive cooperation, a senior official of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) said on Thursday in Bern.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting Swiss

Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, who is also vice-president of the Swiss Federation.

During the meeting, the Chinese official put forward a five-point initiative on friendly cooperation between China and Switzerland.

He said the two sides should, first and foremost, enhance understanding and extend common insight in order to set up long-term and stable cooperation relations.

Li, one of the nine top members in the political bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the two sides should continue to strengthen practical cooperation in the areas of economy and trade as well as science and technology.

He also recommended the two nations deepened exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture and journalism.

Li, who is on a visit to Switzerland, said both sides should properly address disputes on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

He also told Calmy-Rey that China and the Alpine country should further enhance coordination and communications in major international and regional issues.

The Swiss foreign minister endorsed the five-point initiative and said Switzerland has noticed the important role China is playing in international and regional affairs.

She also praised the remarkable progress made by China on protection of intellectual property rights, which China has vowed to respect as a promise to the international community.

China and Switzerland established diplomatic relations in January 1950 and since then their relationship has kept a good momentum.

Li Changchun is on a four-nation tour of Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Switzerland and Norway from June 6 to 19.

Source: Xinhua