The meeting with President Xi will focus particularly on bilateral relations. The main topics will be economic and scientific cooperation, the signing of the upgraded free trade agreement and ten years of strategic partnership. Current international developments and issues of regional and global security will also be discussed.
President Parmelin will also hold talks with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, Social Affairs Minister Wang Xiaoping, Education Minister Huai Jinpeng and Science Minister Yin Hejun. Talks with leading business representatives and the opening of the 10th Swiss-Chinese Economic Forum are also planned.
Negotiations on upgrading the free trade agreement between Switzerland and China, which entered into force in 2014, concluded in August. The protocol amending the existing agreement will now be signed. This is intended not only to improve access to the Chinese market for Swiss goods and investments, but also to strengthen provisions on environmental and worker protection.
Bilateral relations since 1950
Switzerland and China have maintained diplomatic relations since 1950. Switzerland was one of the first Western states to recognise the newly founded People's Republic. The 2014 free trade agreement was China's first with a continental European country. Today, China is Switzerland's most important trading partner after the EU and the United States. China also ranks among Switzerland's leading partners in cooperation in education, research and innovation. In 2016, both sides agreed to define their bilateral relations as an «Innovative Strategische Partnerschaft» (translation: “innovative strategic partnership”).
Switzerland and China conduct bilateral dialogues in almost 30 areas to discuss specific topics. High-level dialogues cover, among other things, the economy, human rights, education, labour law, intellectual property and financial matters. Science and technology, health and the environment are also key areas of cooperation.
Relations with China are an important component of the Federal Council's Asia G20 Strategy 2025–2028, which strengthens cooperation with the most important Asian partners in the areas of peace and security, prosperity and competitiveness, the environment, and democracy and governance.