Chinese vice premier hails Sino-Swiss economic ties, outlines priorities for future co-op

ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Monday hailed the development of trade and economic relations between China and Switzerland and outlined 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)

Addressing a group of leading Swiss entrepreneurs, Li said notable achievements have been made in developing trade and economic ties between China and Switzerland with joint efforts by the governments of the two nations and the business community.

Bilateral trade continued to expand, and investment cooperation has been deepened, Li said.

"Quality and brandname products from Switzerland are well received in China; while fine and affordable Chinese products have also become increasingly popular in Switzerland," he said.

Switzerland is a major source of foreign investment from Europe for China, which now has manufacturing bases set up by leading Swiss companies such as Nestle, Novartis and ABB, he said.

"Meanwhile, progress has been made in Chinese investment in Switzerland in such fields as energy, telecommunications and software engineering," he added.

The Chinese vice premier said technological trade between the two countries has also been enhanced. "For China, Switzerland is a major source of advanced technology in Europe."

Cooperation on technology has boosted the renovation of traditional industries and the development of high- and new-tech industries in China, Li said, adding it is a key reason Switzerland has achieved a trade surplus with China.

Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has maintained good momentum in the past year despite the global financial crisis, Li said.

The Chinese vice premier also spoke highly of the sound development of Sino-EU trade and economic cooperation.

"After the outbreak of the international financial crisis, both sides have strengthened coordination over macro-economic policy and boosted trade, investment and technological cooperation, contributing to the reform of the international financial system and a recovery of the world economy," he said.