China and Switzerland are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, a partnership that spans trade, scientific research and diplomacy.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit Switzerland for the fourth round of the Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Bellinzona.
Mount Rigi serves as a scenic symbol of that connection. Rising 1,800 meters above sea level, it is one of Switzerland's most famous landmarks, drawing thousands of tourists annually, including a growing number from China.
"It's very famous and I have been dreaming of coming here for a long time, and I come here for my honeymoon with my husband. So I'm very glad that I have the chance to be here to see the beautiful view," said a visitor.
"I think it's the mountains all around, you can see. Today, like today, you have really a good view into the Swiss Alps. You see the highest mountains, over 4,000 meters high. They are snow-capped at the moment and they like that very much," said a staff worker at Mount Rigi.
Mount Rigi not only offers breathtaking views, it is a symbol of friendship between China and Switzerland. Dubbed "Queen of the Mountains," it is twinned with Mount Emei in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Established in 2009, the partnership is marked by an eight-tonne stone which was sent from Mount Emei, symbolizing cultural and touristic collaboration.
Switzerland was one of the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China in January 1950. And ever since, the two nations have been working on deepening and broadening their relations.
Over the decades, the relationship has expanded to include more than 30 bilateral dialogues on topics ranging from trade, security issues and human rights, to science, research to innovation, according to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The two countries also cooperate at the United Nations.
"We had the first joint venture coming in 1980, the first Swiss joint venture in China. But also Switzerland was chairing the committee for the Chinese entry into the WTO. So there are major milestones that we look and that we're celebrating with the 75th year anniversary," said Markus Leitner, director-general for Asia and Pacific Area of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China and Switzerland have had a free trade agreement in place since 2014, which allows for mutual market access for goods and services. Since then, China has become Switzerland's third largest trade partner while Switzerland has grown to be China's sixth largest in Europe. Talks are underway to update the agreement.
China, Switzerland mark 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties
The world-renowned Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) celebrated its 105th anniversary in Beijing on Thursday, with the occasion highlighting the enduring history and fruitful results of health cooperation between China and the United States.
Founded by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1921, PUMCH has grown into a modern, comprehensive hospital integrating medical care, teaching and research, and stands as a living testament to the two countries' people-to-people friendship and academic exchanges in medicine.
"Medicine embodies humanity's shared pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. By its very nature, it fosters mutual understanding among people. It is this value consensus that has driven the development of medical exchanges between China and the United States across oceans, forging profound bonds through mutual learning and inspiration," said Zhang Shuyang, president of the hospital, in a speech at a conference in Beijing.
The Rockefeller Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1913 by American industrialist John D. Rockefeller, aimed to improve public health services and medical education. This establishment of PUMCH marked a milestone in the history of medical cooperation between China and the United States.
The conference highlighted the history of medical and health cooperation between the two countries.
"One hundred and five years ago, American and Chinese physicians, scientists and philanthropists made a decision that would dramatically impact the course of medicine, not only in China, but the entire world. The Rockefeller Foundation, partnering with the China Medical Board, invested not in commerce, not in politics, but in people. They brought the Johns Hopkins model of academic medicine to Beijing," said David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China.
According to the American Chamber of Commerce in China, pharmaceutical and medical cooperation between Chinese and American universities, institutions and companies has achieved fruitful results, especially in areas such as rare disease drugs, gene therapy and cancer treatment.
"We've seen the integration of excellence in clinical care and education research and public service. PUMCH remains a living testament to the enduring value of U.S.-China people-to-people friendship and academic exchanges in medicine," said Roger I. Glass, president of China Medical Board.
Experts believe that, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, China and the United States can work together to explore the application of digital health technology in remote medical services, medical data management and other scenarios, setting an example for global cooperation in digital healthcare.
China-US health cooperation highlighted as Peking Union Medical College Hospital marks 105th anniversary
