[China and Switzerland]
In 2013, the relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Swiss Confederation grew rapidly and their practical cooperation in various fields enjoyed good development.
The two countries had frequent high-level exchanges. From 23 to 25 May, Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Switzerland, during which he had talks with Ueli Maurer, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport. Didier Burkhalter, Vice President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Johann N. Schneider- Ammann, Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, were also present at the talks. The two sides exchanged views on the bilateral ties, cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of common interest, and signed the Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation of the Swiss Confederation on Cooperation in the Area of Climate Change, the Memorandum of Understanding of the China- Switzerland Joint Commission on Economic and Trade on Establishing a Working Group on Cooperation Regarding Watches and Clocks, the Memorandum of Understanding on the Sino-Swiss Management Training Program for Sustainable Development Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Swiss Confederation and the Joint Statement on All-round Cooperation in the Field of Education Between the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of the Swiss Confederation. From 16 to 20 February, Vice Premier Hui Liangyu visited Switzerland and met with President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of Federal Department of Defense Maurer, Vice President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Burkhalter, and Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs Schneider-Ammann. On 7 May, Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao and State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Yves Rossier held political consultation between the two foreign ministries. From 17 to 21 July, Ueli Maurer, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport, visited China and attended the Eco Forum Global Guiyang. President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and State Councilor and Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan met with him. On 25 April, Didier Burkhalter, Vice President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, visited China. He met with Vice Premier Wang Yang and held talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi. From 30 to 31 May, Doris Leuthard, Swiss Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, visited China and met with State Councilor Yang Jiechi. On 6 July, Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Swiss Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, visited China and met with Premier Li Keqiang. From 15 to 17 August, Alain Berset, Swiss Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs, visited China and attended the China Health Forum.
Practical cooperation in various fields made breakthroughs. On 6 July, Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng and Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs Schneider-Ammann signed the Free Trade Agreement Between the People's Republic of China and the Swiss Confederation in Beijing. The National Council of the Swiss Federal Assembly voted to adopt the agreement in December.
Bilateral dialogue and consultation mechanisms worked well. The first China-Switzerland Financial Dialogue, the seventh China-Switzerland Dialogue on Human Rights and the seventh China-Switzerland Consular (Migration) Dialogue were held and the 22nd session of the China- Switzerland Joint Commission on Economy and Trade was convened in Zurich.
Cultural and people-to-people exchanges were more dynamic. The Confucius Institute at University of Basel was opened. Cultural activities, including the exhibition "Qin-the Eternal Emperor and His Terracotta Warriors" and the China-Basel Mid-Autumn Festival, were warmly received in Switzerland. Agreements on sister provinces/cities were reached between Guangdong Province and Kanton Zurich and between Geneva and Beijing.
On 27 June, new Chinese Ambassador Xu Jinghu presented credentials to President Maurer.
Editor:Yaling
