China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with President of the Council of States of Switzerland Andrea Caroni in Beijing on Tuesday.
Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland 75 years ago, the bilateral relations have developed steadily, vividly interpreting a spirit of cooperation featuring "equality, innovation and win-win".
China is willing to work with Switzerland to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and promote the continuous development of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership, Zhao said. He said this year, China and Switzerland have enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges, and it is hoped that the two countries will maintain this good momentum and further enhance strategic mutual trust.
Noting that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, Zhao expressed the hope that the Swiss side will abide by the one-China principle and support China's efforts to achieve national reunification.
It is also hoped that both sides will accelerate negotiations on upgrading the free trade agreement to further expand the "pie" of economic and trade cooperation between them, jointly maintain the multilateral trading system and the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, strengthen multilateral collaboration, and work together to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, Zhao said.
Zhao said China's NPC is willing to work with the Swiss Council of States to enhance friendly exchanges among senior members of legislative bodies, special committees, bilateral friendship groups, and between China's NPC deputies and members of the Swiss Council of States, so as to leverage their own characteristics and advantages to promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and provide support for the development of China-Switzerland relations.
Zhao briefed Caroni on China's philosophy of upholding innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, and its efforts to promote sustainable development.
Caroni said China is an important participant in the world economy and global governance, and an important partner of Switzerland, stressing that the relationship between the two countries is of strategic significance.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and China 75 years ago, the two sides have always adhered to mutual respect and carried out fruitful cooperation in a wide range of fields, he said.
Switzerland adheres to the one-China policy, he said.
The Swiss Council of States is willing to enhance friendly exchanges with China's NPC, promote cooperation in the economic, scientific and technological, cultural and tourism sectors, as well as sub-national affairs, advance negotiations on upgrading the free trade agreement, and strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries, Caroni added.
China's top legislator holds talks with president of Swiss Council of States
China's top legislator holds talks with president of Swiss Council of States
