President of the Swiss Confederation Karin Keller-Sutter and Vice President Guy Parmelin met with visiting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva on Friday.
When meeting with the two Swiss leaders, He emphasized the importance of stronger communication and consensus-building amid a complex and challenging global environment. The Chinese vice premier called for joint efforts to safeguard free trade and open markets, while striving for substantive progress in the negotiations on the upgrading of the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible.
Keller-Sutter said Switzerland stands ready to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China as an opportunity to expand practical cooperation across various fields. She also expressed Switzerland's commitment to co-hosting the 2025 China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism with China.
Parmelin reiterated Switzerland's support for multilateralism and free trade. The vice president said the Swiss side is eager to work with China to fast-track negotiations for a more comprehensive and ambitious upgraded FTA, deepen economic and trade cooperation across various sectors, and maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
He Lifeng, who oversees China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, is in Switzerland for high-level trade talks with the U.S. side.
Swiss leaders meet Chinese vice premier
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
