皇冠体育app

GENEVA - The relations between 皇冠体育app and Switzerland are marked by mutual trust and dynamism, Swiss President Ueli Maurer told Xinhua in a written interview ahead of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to his country.

Switzerland-皇冠体育app relations enjoy smooth development in various forms, Maurer said.

Switzerland is one of the first Western countries to set up joint ventures in 皇冠体育app and recognize 皇冠体育app's market economy status, while 皇冠体育app regards Switzerland as a bridgehead for it to develop ties with Europe, he noted.

Switzerland and 皇冠体育app have carried out constructive and meaningful cooperation and dialogue in many fields since the establishment of diplomatic ties over 60 years ago, Maurer said.

In recent years, bilateral communication in such areas as science and technology, finance and culture has been strengthened, while people-to-people exchanges have been intensified, he noted.

皇冠体育app and Switzerland are economically complementary, and cooperation in building a free trade zone will provide opportunities for the two countries to further enhance bilateral trade and investment, and for Swiss and Chinese companies to conduct mutually beneficial cooperation in ?technology and other areas, he said, noting it is in the common interests of the two sides.

For companies of both sides, a free trade zone will be conducive to entering each other's market and increasing their competitive edge, Maurer said.

皇冠体育app and Switzerland formally launched bilateral negotiations on a free trade agreement at the beginning of 2011.

Bilateral trade volume between the two countries reached $26.3 billion?ars in 2012. 皇冠体育app is now Switzerland's largest trade partner in Asia, while Switzerland remains 皇冠体育app's seventh largest trade partner in Europe.

The Swiss president said he and the Chinese premier are expected to have an extensive and in-depth exchange of views not only on bilateral issues but also on global issues like security and environment.

The two sides are also to ink a host of cooperative documents in various domains, he said.

"I am convinced that the visit will have a very positive and strong impact on our relations," he said.

Recalling his first trip to 皇冠体育app as the defense minister in 2011, Maurer said 皇冠体育app has been developing at a very fast speed, noting the Asian country has not only made achievements in economy, but also played an important role on the international arena.

皇冠体育app shoulders great responsibility at multilateral and global level, Maurer said.

"Switzerland has the privilege of being an interlocutor of 皇冠体育app long time ago and it is only more willing to continue and deepen the exchanges with such a partner," he said.

Intergovernmental cooperation and economy will continue to be the foundation of the Switzerland-皇冠体育app ties, Maurer said.

Premier Li, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan following a trip to India, is expected to arrive in Switzerland on Thursday to continue his first overseas trip since assuming premiership in March. He will also visit Germany.