On September 14th, President Xi Jinping and Swiss Federal President Keller Zutter exchanged congratulatory messages to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 75 years ago, both sides have worked together to cultivate the spirit of "equality, innovation, and win-win" cooperation between China and Switzerland. The fruitful results of bilateral and multilateral cooperation have enhanced the well-being of the two peoples and made positive contributions to upholding multilateralism and free trade.
Mutual respect and trust are important foundations for the long-term stable development of China Switzerland relations. For a long time, Switzerland has firmly adhered to the One China policy, and both sides respect each other's core interests and major concerns, respect each other's chosen social system and development path, and jointly promote the stable development of bilateral relations. China Switzerland relations have always been at the forefront of China Europe relations, achieving multiple 'firsts'. In 1980, Swiss company Xunda established China's first industrial joint venture in China. In 2013, Switzerland became the first European country to sign a free trade agreement with China. In 2016, China and Switzerland established an innovation strategic partnership, marking China's first strategic partnership with a foreign country marked by innovation. The high-level exchanges between China and Switzerland are frequent, political mutual trust is constantly consolidated, and dialogue and exchanges in various fields and at all levels are becoming increasingly close. China Switzerland relations have entered the fast lane of high-level development.
Mutual benefit and win-win is a distinctive characteristic of high-quality cooperation between China and Switzerland. At the beginning of diplomatic relations, the trade volume between China and Switzerland was only about 6 million US dollars. Nowadays, cooperation between China and Switzerland in the fields of economy, trade, finance, etc. is developing rapidly and achieving fruitful results. More than a thousand Swiss companies are deeply involved in the Chinese market, with a total investment of over 2500 projects in China and an actual investment amount of over 11 billion US dollars. China has remained Switzerland's third largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years, and the trade volume between the two countries reached a new high of 62.78 billion US dollars in 2024. Currently, China is steadfastly promoting high-level opening-up to the outside world, and the Swiss economic community is generally optimistic about China's development prospects, looking forward to sharing the dividends of China's super large market. China and Switzerland have initiated negotiations to upgrade their free trade agreement, which will bring more tangible benefits to both countries and their peoples.
The mutual understanding of people is the solid foundation of the traditional friendship between China and Switzerland. The cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are flourishing and thriving. At present, more than 10 Swiss universities maintain close cooperation with China, and thousands of Chinese students are studying in Switzerland. In 2024, China will implement a visa free policy for Switzerland, significantly increasing the enthusiasm of Swiss people to come to China, and the personnel exchanges between the two sides will continue to be active. 2025 is the "China Switzerland Culture and Tourism Year", and the Bern Chinese Cultural Center has been officially unveiled, establishing a new platform for cultural exchanges between the two countries. Both sides will hold a series of music, art, and cultural tourism activities, which will further promote mutual understanding and matchmaking between the two peoples, and build a bridge of cultural friendship between China and Switzerland.
Adhering to the right path is a clear direction for multilateral cooperation between China and Switzerland. Both China and Switzerland are advocates of economic globalization, supporters of world multipolarity, and beneficiaries of trade liberalization, maintaining close cooperation in international affairs for a long time. In the face of the current Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism, geopolitical conflicts and economic and trade frictions continue to increase. China is willing to continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Switzerland, jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, practice true multilateralism, maintain international trade rules and the world economic order, promote the development of the international order towards a more just and reasonable direction, and inject positive energy into world peace and development.
Based on a new starting point, China is willing to work with Switzerland, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, to remember the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations, uphold the courage and wisdom of daring to be the first, deepen economic and trade, financial cooperation, and cultural exchanges, elevate the China Switzerland innovation strategic partnership to a new level, and make new contributions to promoting an equal and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization.
(The author is the Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland)
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