Ministry of Foreign Affairs
People’s Republic of China
Wang Yi Holds the First Round of China-Switzerland Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with Member of the Federal Council and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis of the Swiss Confederation
Updated: April 03, 2018 16:49

On April 3, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and visiting Member of the Federal Council and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis of the Swiss Confederation held the first round of China-Switzerland Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.

Wang Yi expressed that Ignazio Cassis chose China as the first country to visit outside the European region after taking office as Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, fully demonstrating the importance of China-Switzerland relations.

Wang Yi said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1950, China-Switzerland relations have maintained a sound momentum of constant and forward-looking development. Bilateral mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation has not only brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, but also facilitated the development of China-Europe relations as a stabilizing force of China-Europe relations. In 2016, the two countries established a new position of innovative strategic partnership, demonstrating the prominent feature of China-Switzerland relations. In 2017, the two heads of state paid visits to each other within half a year, making China-Switzerland relations reach a new high in history. Holding China-Switzerland Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue and promoting the establishment of high-level innovative platform are important measures to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state and boost China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership.

Wang Yi noted that China is willing to work with Switzerland to jointly advance greater development of bilateral relations in the new period. First, continue to maintain close exchanges, reinforce the political leading for the development of bilateral relations and seize cooperation opportunities. Second, fully release the innovation potential of China-Switzerland cooperation, organically combine the innovation advantages of Switzerland with the innovation development of China, and push forward the innovation cooperation in such fields as the "Belt and Road" construction and finance between the two countries. Third, constantly enrich the strategic connotation of China-Switzerland relations, and make joint contributions to promoting the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind as well as maintaining the open world economy. Fourth, be good partners with equality and mutual respect, take care of each other's core concerns and enhance both peoples' sense of gain, so as to make China-Switzerland friendship get deeper into the hearts of the people.

Speaking positively of bilateral relations, Ignazio Cassis noted that Switzerland-China relations have enjoyed a long-lasting history and reached the best level in history at present. Attaching great importance to developing its relations with China, Switzerland supports and hopes to continue taking active participation in the "Belt and Road" construction. Switzerland is willing to deeply advance bilateral cooperation in various fields including the "Belt and Road", finance, scientific research, tourism and winter sports, and jointly maintain and promote the multilateral international order with the United Nations as the core, in a bid to push forward Switzerland-China innovative strategic partnership to continuously reach higher levels.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern such as international trade policy and the situation of the Korean Peninsula, and emphasized that China and Switzerland will jointly devote to facilitating trade liberalization and opposing trade protectionism. The two sides welcomed positive changes in the situation of the Korean Peninsula and expressed willingness to play constructive roles in properly handling the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.