Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Swiss leaders pledged to strengthen economic collaboration this week, signaling a major push to upgrade free trade between the two nations. The high-level talks in Geneva emphasized open markets and global stability as geopolitical tensions simmer worldwide. 🌐
He stressed the need to ‘safeguard free trade’ amid a ‘complex international situation,’ urging faster negotiations to modernize the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 🔄 ‘This isn’t just about tariffs,’ one analyst noted. ‘It’s about stabilizing supply chains and tech partnerships in uncertain times.’
Swiss Confederation President Karin Keller-Sutter echoed the sentiment, announcing a joint 2024 Switzerland-China Year of Culture & Tourism 🎉 to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties. ‘We’re building bridges—not just in trade, but in people-to-people connections,’ she said.
Vice President Guy Parmelin added that Switzerland remains committed to multilateralism, with FTA upgrades set to benefit businesses and citizens alike. 💼 Both sides aim to finalize talks before year-end, potentially creating new opportunities in clean energy, finance, and AI sectors.
