Didier Burkhalter visits Beijing to strengthen bilateral relations with China
Bern, 15.01.2016 - Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday in Beijing as part of the political dialogue between Switzerland and China. At this sixth round of talks since the dialogue between the two countries began in 2007, the agenda included the development of bilateral relations at the political, economic and financial levels, as well as an exchange of views on key foreign policy issues.
The two foreign ministers welcomed the significant progress made on financial matters in 2015. The Swiss financial sector has joined a little number of other financial centres in Europe in becoming an offshore centre for the renminbi with the opening of a Chinese bank in Switzerland and the possibility to trade directly between the two countries' currencies. Indeed, the invitation from the Chinese presidency to Switzerland to participate in G20 finance meetings is further evidence of the quality of relations between the two countries.
Mr Wang also informed Mr Burkhalter that the Chinese authorities have authorised Switzerland to issue visas in association with a private-sector partner from three Chinese cities where there is no official Swiss representation. Switzerland's tourist sector had been calling for such an agreement, which will allow Chinese tourism to Switzerland to expand. In 2015, Chinese nationals accounted for over a million recorded overnight stays in Swiss hotels. Switzerland is now negotiating to open visa centres in other Chinese cities.
Furthermore, Switzerland and China have agreed to launch a bilateral dialogue on preventing corruption, and to begin discussions on cyber security. The Chinese delegation also used the meeting to emphasise the country's interest in cooperating more closely with Switzerland on education, research and innovation.
Mr Burkhalter and Mr Wang agreed to pursue talks on human rights within the framework of the bilateral dialogue on these issues to be held this year in China, having taken place in Switzerland in 2015. Mr Burkhalter, who also met representatives of civil society in Beijing, specifically raised the issue of respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism, and appealed for lawyers to be able to go about their work unhindered.
Global water governance was another topic at the meeting. Recalling that there are some 1.5 billion people living in river basins across many Asian countries, Mr Burkhalter set out the aims and ambitions of the High Level Panel on Water and Peace that was recently launched in Geneva. He also addressed the fight against terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism. He invited the Chinese government to explore further the activities of the Geneva-based Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), and to consider becoming a partner.
Moreover, Switzerland and China found that their views on North Korea are largely congruent, with both countries expressing concern at Pyongyang's nuclear programme. The Syria crisis was also discussed, and both ministers called for a political solution negotiated in Switzerland under the aegis of the United Nations.
Before leaving Beijing, Didier Burkhalter paid a courtesy visit to State Councillor Yang Jiechi. These various meetings demonstrated that bilateral relations between Switzerland and China are closer than ever. There will be a further opportunity for talks next week when Vice President of China Li Yuanchao will be in Davos, where he will meet President of the Swiss Confederation Johann Schneider-Amman.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
