Chinese vice premier calls for safeguarding free trade, open markets with Switzerland

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Friday called for jointly safeguarding free trade and open markets with Switzerland.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Karin Keller-Sutter, president of the Swiss Confederation, and Guy Parmelin, vice president of the Federal Council, in Geneva.

Amid the current complex international situation, China and Switzerland should strengthen communication, work together to meet challenges and jointly safeguard free trade and open markets, said He.

He called for promoting substantive progress in talks on an upgrade of the Sino-Swiss free trade agreement (FTA) at an early date, and contributing to global peace and stability and economic prosperity.

Keller-Sutter said the Swiss side is willing to work with China to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity, jointly host the Switzerland-China Year of Culture and Tourism, actively carry out exchanges at all levels and deepen practical cooperation in multiple fields to push bilateral ties to a new level.

Parmelin said Switzerland supports multilateralism and free trade, and is ready to work with China to accelerate negotiations on upgrading the FTA, aiming to benefit the enterprises and the people of both sides and safeguard global industrial and supply chains.