The BRI is the most important investment project of the century

World
Europe

01:39

Switzerland's president says the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most important investment project of the century.

While most Western countries are still weighing on their participation in the BRI, Switzerland is leaping into action. According to the Swiss Federal Department of Finance, Switzerland and China will sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in third markets under the BRI during the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, which is held from April 25 to 27.

The president of the Swiss Confederation, Ueli Maurer, is among the 37 foreign leaders who are attending the forum's roundtable summit. CGTN's senior correspondent Tian Wei met with President Maurer in the Swiss Embassy in Beijing, discussing the two countries' long history of cooperation and its continuation into the future.

"The world needs some visions," said President Maurer, and he believes that the BRI is the most important investment project in the world for the next 100 years. Generations to come will profit from these investments.

President Maurer is also the head of the country's finance department. He told CGTN that private investors in Switzerland are ready to put money into projects under the BRI. "In the moment, there are a lot of ideas," said Maurer, "but we need to wait a little for concrete projects."

Central Asia is a region where Switzerland has committed to supporting in terms of aiding its political, social and economic transition process. BRI projects in countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will be of particular interest to Switzerland.

In terms of bilateral ties, China is looking forward to upgrading its free trade agreement with Switzerland, which was signed in 2013.

President Maurer believes that the Swiss and Chinese people are bonded by their similar work ethics and innovativeness. He looks forward to the next step of the two countries' cooperation.

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