In a Beijing meeting brimming with historic echoes and forward-looking ambition, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi and Swiss Federal Councillor and foreign minister Ignazio Cassis joined forces to address rising global uncertainties and strengthen the international economic and trade order.
As staunch supporters of multilateralism and free trade, both sides underscored the need to push back against anti-globalization trends and defend the rules-based system that ensures fair play for all nations. Wang stressed that the 'law of the jungle' must not be allowed to govern world affairs again.
Switzerland was among the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, laying a foundation of mutual respect and cooperation that has endured for 75 years. Wang called for more high-level exchanges, deeper strategic ties and an upgrade to the bilateral free trade agreement to capture new opportunities in an evolving global economy.
Cassis echoed the sentiment, emphasizing Switzerland's pragmatic approach to deepen ties with China across technology, education and cultural tourism. Both ministers pledged to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship with a series of people-to-people events, including a 'China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism.'
On trade, they agreed to accelerate FTA upgrade negotiations, streamline dialogue mechanisms and build shared consensus on investment. China welcomed more Swiss enterprises to prosper in its market, while Switzerland affirmed its commitment to a level playing field for businesses from both sides.
Beyond economics, the two diplomats held in-depth discussions on pressing global issues—from the conflict in Ukraine to security challenges in the Middle East—highlighting the need for collective action and solidarity to tackle transnational challenges.
With contagion risks and geopolitical frictions on the rise, the Wang-Cassis meeting sends a clear message: teamwork between Beijing and Bern matters more than ever when it comes to defending a stable, inclusive and rules-based global trade system.
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Wang Yi calls on China, Switzerland to safeguard global trade order
cgtn.com
