Xi Jinping calls for greater openness and stronger China-Europe trade cooperation
Chinese President Xi Jinping said China stands ready to work with Switzerland to uphold openness and inject greater confidence and certainty into global economic development. He made the remarks during a meeting with President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin in Beijing on Friday.
The meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People. Xi extended a warm welcome to Parmelin, who is on a working visit to China from Friday to Sunday, and highlighted the strong ties between the two countries.
"Switzerland is an important partner for China in Europe, and its cooperation with China has always been at the forefront among European countries. Openness brings progress, while closure inevitably leads to stagnation. When the economies of different nations are interconnected, they advance together.
When they are closed off, they fall behind. It is neither possible nor in line with the tide of history to force the vast ocean of the global economy to recede back into isolated, small lakes and streams," Xi said.
He added that China is willing to work with Switzerland to uphold openness, strengthen cooperation and promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. These efforts, he said, would inject confidence and greater certainty into economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe, as well as global economic development.
Parmelin highlighted the enduring partnership between the two countries and the significance of the upgraded free trade agreement.
"Last year, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and China. We take great pride in the fact that Switzerland was among the first nations in the West to recognize the People's Republic of China, a step that paved the way for a solid and enduring partnership between our two countries. Today, it is once again a great honor for me to attend the signing ceremony for the protocol on upgrading the Switzerland-China free trade agreement, which marks a new phase in our bilateral relationship," the Swiss president said.
According to CCTV+, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to open economic cooperation and stronger trade ties, including through the upgraded free trade agreement.
