Xi Jinping Meets with the President of the Swiss Confederation

CCTV News (Xinwen Lianbo): On the afternoon of October 30, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Swiss Confederation President Parmelin, who was visiting China on a working visit.

Xi Jinping said that Switzerland is an important partner of China in Europe, and its cooperation with China has always been at the forefront among European countries. At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are surging, free-trade cooperation has become the most striking hallmark of China-Switzerland relations. It fully embodies the two countries' political courage and sense of responsibility in upholding open cooperation, and demonstrates their distinctive leading role in promoting an open world economy. When countries' economies are connected, they advance together; when they close themselves off, they fall back separately. China is willing to work with Switzerland to hold high the banner of openness, strengthen the ties of cooperation, promote inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, and jointly inject valuable confidence and greater certainty into China-Europe economic and trade cooperation and global economic development.

Xi Jinping stressed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland, the two sides have helped each other succeed, dared to be pioneers and continually used practical results to demonstrate the spirit of China-Switzerland cooperation—equality, innovation and win-win results—setting an example for relations between countries of different sizes and social systems. The two sides should respect one another, treat one another as equals, and comprehensively strengthen exchanges at all levels and policy coordination. China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and steadily expanding institutional opening-up, and is willing to make its market a market of the world that is shared by all. The two sides should uphold mutual benefit and win-win results and turn the blueprint for open cooperation into a visible and tangible reality. They should strengthen cooperation in innovation, focus on fostering cooperation in emerging industries such as the digital economy, green energy storage and artificial intelligence, build high-quality industrial and supply chains featuring coordinated innovation and shared benefits, and jointly promote the beneficial and responsible development of artificial intelligence for the good of humanity.

Xi Jinping said that Switzerland has long played an important exemplary role in China-Europe economic and trade exchanges. He hoped Switzerland would use its distinctive influence to play a positive role in promoting the upwardly balanced and steady development of China-Europe trade. China and Switzerland have similar positions and shared ideas on supporting multilateralism. The two sides should deepen multilateral coordination and mutual support, firmly uphold the international system centered on the United Nations and the international order based on international law, reform and improve the global governance system, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Parmelin said that Switzerland, as one of the earliest Western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China, has always been deeply proud of this, and that it opened a lasting and dynamic partnership between the two countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides have always respected one another, maintained close high-level exchanges, and achieved fruitful results in cooperation in many fields, including trade and investment, scientific research and innovation, and employment. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership. The two sides completed negotiations to upgrade the free-trade agreement to a high standard in a short period of time, reflecting their high level of mutual trust and meeting the expectations of businesses and all parties in both countries. This will inject new impetus into the development of China-Switzerland relations. Switzerland firmly follows the one-China policy and looks forward to strengthening dialogue and exchanges with China, upholding mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieving greater development in cooperation across various fields. Switzerland attaches great importance to China's positive role in international affairs and is willing to closely coordinate with China, uphold multilateralism, safeguard free trade, and contribute to global development, prosperity, peace and stability.

After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the protocol to upgrade the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement and a number of cooperation documents in fields including scientific research, employment and media.

Wang Yi participated in the above activities.