The growing strength of China-Switzerland relations has boosted bilateral trade, investment and cooperation in various sectors over the past 75 years, said Jurg Burri, the Swiss ambassador to China.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the Swiss Embassy in China has already launched related celebrations and cultural exchange activities.
In March 2024, China implemented a unilateral visa exemption policy for Switzerland to facilitate cross-border travel. The visa exemption period for the entry of Swiss nationals to China was extended at the end of last year.
As this year also marks the China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism, Burri said that Switzerland wishes to welcome more Chinese tourists through efficient visa services and sustainable tourism programs.
In the ambassador's view, the bilateral relations between China and Switzerland have been fruitful.
"We have strong trade relations. China is our third trade partner in the world. We have a free trade agreement, and we have more than 1,000 Swiss companies who are here in China and contribute to the Chinese economy," he said.
In 2007, Switzerland became the first European country to recognize China's full market economy status ,and in 2013, it was the first European country to sign a free trade agreement with China, a sign of deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two nations.
Burri said that since the free trade agreement took effect in 2014, bilateral trade between the two countries has surged.
According to data from China's Ministry of Commerce, the total bilateral trade in goods between the two sides reached 62.78 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, up 5.5 percent year on year.
Currently, the two sides are in negotiations to upgrade the agreement, discussing the expansion of zero-tariff products, as well as trade in services, investment, and related regulations.
"We could still waive tariffs from a wider scope of products -- that's the one thing. This negotiation is also a very good way to keep in touch, to exchange on potential cooperation and really look at our trade relations in a holistic way," he said.
The Chinese government has continually expanded the range of industries open to foreign investment, reduced entry barriers, and optimized the business environment in recent years.
These new changes have allowed more Swiss enterprises to enter China's service market, according to the ambassador.
"Swiss companies are quite present here, as you say, and also [they include] companies in the service sector. We have also Swiss banks which are present here in China. But the strongest push I currently see [is] in pharmaceutics and in medic[al field]," he said.
Swiss ambassador hails growing ties, cooperation between China, Switzerland
Swiss ambassador hails growing ties, cooperation between China, Switzerland
