Chinese vice premier meets Swiss president on ties, trade cooperation

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday met with Swiss President Doris Leuthard to discuss bilateral ties and measures against trade protectionism.


Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang(R) shakes hands with President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard before their meeting in Bern, capital of Switzerland, on Jan. 26, 2010. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday met with Swiss President Doris Leuthard to discuss bilateral ties and measures against trade protectionism.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang(R) shakes hands with President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard before their meeting in Bern, capital of Switzerland, on Jan. 26, 2010. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Li said the creation of a free trade area between the two countries is under discussion and serves as a concrete action for both sides to combat trade protectionism.

"Both sides should push forward the feasibility study on a free trade area, and be well prepared to start negotiations in 2010," Li said.

The creation of the free trade area is of great significance to bilateral ties and will be conducive to further promotion of bilateral trade and investment cooperation, he said.

China and Switzerland launched a feasibility study on a free trade agreement in November last year.

He noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, saying Switzerland was among the West European countries that were the first to recognize the People's Republic of China.

"We should stick to the principle of sincerity, mutual trust and friendly consultation, and seek common ground while reserving differences, in order to cement the political basis of bilateral ties," Li said.

For her part, Leuthard said Switzerland opposes any form of trade protectionism and expects more Chinese investment in the country and increased bilateral cooperation in such fields as technology and finance.



Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang(4th L) attends the joint press conference with President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard(4th R) in Bern, capital of Switzerland, on Jan. 26, 2010. Li Keqiang arrived in Zurich on Monday, kicking off his formal visit to Switzerland. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Switzerland treats the Switzerland-China ties from a long-term perspective and highly values its cooperation with China, she said.

She hoped that both sides could step up efforts on the feasibility study on a free trade area for a good outcome that would open a new chapter in bilateral economic and trade ties.

Leuthard said she will visit China this year and attend the Shanghai World Expo.

The Chinese vice premier arrived in Switzerland on Monday for a four-day visit that will also see him traveling to the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

At a meeting with leading Swiss entrepreneurs later Monday, he called for closer economic and trade ties between the two countries.

Praising enhanced mutual investment and technology trade between the two sides, Li proposed that China and Switzerland strengthen their economic ties through further liberalizing trade and investment, standing against all forms of protectionism and pushing for a more balanced and fair outcome of the Doha Round of global trade talks.

The Chinese leader also called for more financial cooperation and cooperation on energy conservation and environmental protection.

Cooperation in the field of high and new technology and that between small- and medium-sized enterprises of the two countries should also be further promoted, he said.

Source:Xinhua