Chinese vice premier hails Sino-Swiss trade, economic ties
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China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Monday hailed the development of trade and economic relations between China and Switzerland and outlined priorities for future cooperation.
Addressing a group of leading Swiss entrepreneurs, Li said notable achievements have been made in developing trade and economic ties between China and Switzerland with joint efforts by the governments of the two nations and the business community.
Bilateral trade continued to expand, and investment cooperation has been deepened, Li said.
"Quality and brandname products from Switzerland are well received in China; while fine and affordable Chinese products have also become increasingly popular in Switzerland," he said.
Switzerland is a major source of foreign investment from Europe for China, which now has manufacturing bases set up by leading Swiss companies such as Nestle, Novartis and ABB, he said.
"Meanwhile, progress has been made in Chinese investment in Switzerland in such fields as energy, telecommunications and software engineering," he added.
The Chinese vice premier said technological trade between the two countries has also been enhanced. "For China, Switzerland is a major source of advanced technology in Europe."
Cooperation on technology has boosted the renovation of traditional industries and the development of high- and new-tech industries in China, Li said, adding it is a key reason Switzerland has achieved a trade surplus with China.
Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has maintained good momentum in the past year despite the global financial crisis, Li said.
The Chinese vice premier also spoke highly of the sound development of Sino-EU trade and economic cooperation.
"After the outbreak of the international financial crisis, both sides have strengthened coordination over macro-economic policy and boosted trade, investment and technological cooperation, contributing to the reform of the international financial system and a recovery of the world economy," he said.
Li told the Swiss entrepreneurs that economic and trade cooperation is an important basis and a lasting driving force for the development of Sino-Swiss ties.
He outlined five priorities in furthering trade and investment cooperation with Switzerland.
As the first priority, Li proposed that the two countries should deepen their economic ties through further liberalizing trade and investment, standing against all forms of protectionism and pushing for a more balanced and fair outcome of the Doha Round of global trade talks.
China and Switzerland launched a feasibility study on a free trade agreement in November last year. Li said the two sides should press ahead with the feasibility study and prepare for the launch of negotiations.
The Chinese leader called for deepened financial cooperation as the second of the priorities.
China needs to learn from Switzerland and other European countries which are more experienced in managing finance and assets, Li said.
"Both sides should bring into further play the dialogue in finance, economy and insurance supervision, so as to help push forward the reform of the global financial system and bring about the overall recovery of the global economy," he said.
As the third priority, cooperation on energy conservation and environment protection should be further strengthened to make it one of the shining points of the trade and economic ties between China and Europe, he said.
Meanwhile, China is willing to work with the international community to materialize the Copenhagen accord of the UN climate change conference in December and push for new outcomes at this year's conference scheduled for November in Mexico, Li said.
As the other two priorities, cooperation in the field of high and new technology and that between small- and medium-sized enterprises of the two countries should also be further deepened, he said.
Li arrived in Zurich earlier Monday for a four-day visit to Switzerland, during which he will also attend this year's World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Alpine ski resort of Davos.
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