Chinese vice premier calls for closer economic ties with Switzerland

ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Monday called for closer economic and trade ties with Switzerland, highlighting priorities for future cooperation.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) shakes hands with Gerold Buehrer,  president of Economiesuisse during a dinner party held by the  Economiesuisse, the Swiss Business Federation, at Zurich on Jan. 25, 2010.  Li Keqiang arrived here on Monday for a four-day official visit to  Switzerland, during which he will also attend this year's World Economic  Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

"China and Switzerland are major economic partners to each other. The economic and trade cooperation serves as an important basis for the development of bilateral ties," Li said when meeting with a group of Switzerland's leading entrepreneurs.

China has a huge market demand and potential for further development, while Switzerland has a competitive edge in scientific research and certain industries and is home to many world-class companies, Li noted.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) and Gerold Buehrer, president of  Economiesuisse step into the room during a dinner party held by the  Economiesuisse, the Swiss Business Federation, at Zurich on Jan. 25, 2010.  Li Keqiang arrived here on Monday for a four-day official visit to  Switzerland, during which he will also attend this year's World Economic  Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun)

Li said the economic and trade cooperation between China and Switzerland remained stable despite the adverse impact of the global financial crisis.

"The two sides worked together in their fight against protectionism. This contributed to the steady growth of bilateral trade," he said.

Li proposed that the two countries should deepen their economic ties through further liberalizing trade and investment, standing firmly against all forms of protectionism and pushing for an early conclusion of the Doha Round of global trade talks with a more balanced and fair result.

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 get ready to launch negotiations as soon as possible.

The Chinese leader called for a deepened financial cooperation in order to contribute to the world's financial system reform and a comprehensive recovery of the world economy.

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.

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 said the trade and economic cooperation between China and Switzerland is embraced with a new starting point after 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He called on both sides to take the chance to bring an even better prospect for Sino-Swiss trade and economic cooperation.

Li arrived here on Monday for a four-day visit to Switzerland. He will also address the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos on Thursday.