Official address to mark the state visit of the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping
Bern, 15.01.2017 - Official address by President Doris Leuthard on 15 January 2017
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Dear Mr President
Mrs Peng
Ministers
Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen
It is a great honour and a pleasure, Mr President, to welcome you here as our guest! Your visit is an acknowledgment of the many years of constructive relations between Switzerland and China. Today, at a challenging time for the international community, we place particular importance on these discussions with you. China is increasingly shouldering greater responsibility in the world – that is something we welcome and indeed thank you for:
- As an open economy, it is important for Switzerland that China too advocates fair competition and free trade – not only bilaterally, but also regionally and globally. Particularly in view of protectionist tendencies worldwide, we are depending on China to play a pioneering role.
- The consequences of climate change can be seen and felt around the world. In Switzerland glaciers are melting, floods, as seen in China, are occurring more frequently. China played a significant part in the achievement of the Paris Climate Agreement and we hope that this commitment continues in the implementation of the Agreement and of further measures to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.
- We also value China’s active commitment to the UN, in particular its contributions to peacekeeping missions. Switzerland works concertedly on behalf of peace, stability and the rule of law, and we support greater cooperation in multilateral policy.
The world faces challenges which can only be overcome together through cooperation. Sino-Swiss relations are dynamic and have therefore served as a model for contacts between China and the whole of Europe on numerous occasions.
We have come a long way together since Switzerland was one of the first western countries to recognise the People’s Republic in 1950. Our knowledge and understanding for one another have grown. Today our relations are closer than ever before.
We have more than 20 bilateral dialogues: on the economy, financial issues, human rights, migration, labour law and intellectual property. But health and the environment are also important areas of cooperation. I also recall our longstanding cooperation in the field of water management.
During my predecessor’s visit to Beijing last April we deepened the friendship between our countries and decided to place our relations under the heading of an ‘innovative strategic partnership’.
That means that China and Switzerland are striving to further increase cooperation. The signings in other areas of exchange planned for tomorrow and regular high-level contacts are examples of those efforts.
A partnership also involves respectful dialogue, even where differences of opinion exist. Close cooperation is necessary and possible in spite of differing systems and models of society: this is demonstrated by the good relations between Switzerland and China.
Openness, freedom of thought and the exchange of ideas help to make Switzerland one of the world’s most innovative countries. We are among the world’s leading nations in many rankings. We have worked long to achieve this and are continually trying to improve and to integrate new technologies and ideas, such as the digitalisation of the economy and society, into our system. It is this potential that we can bring to a partnership, which extends far beyond mutual economic interests.
During my visit last August we were able to discuss climate change, water (management), energy, transport and the green economy. I was impressed by Chinese efforts towards greater sustainability and innovation-driven growth. China’s plans to introduce a national CO2 emissions trading scheme are also to be welcomed. It would be the largest market worldwide, just as China is already the world market leader for renewable energies. There are also other developments that are we are following with interest:
- We are glad that we are able to discuss the role of our two states in relation to global issues as part of the newly launched bilateral strategic dialogue, and that we are also able to work more closely together in important international bodies.
- We are following China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative with interest. Switzerland has just underlined the importance of infrastructure to Europe’s trade and its people by building the longest railway tunnel in the world, and we are eager to see the developments that are made in Asia.
- The Year of Tourism underlines that people-to-people contacts are becoming ever more important. Switzerland is a safe country and is delighted to welcome the many visitors who come here from China. This strengthens the cultural exchange between our countries. After all, China, with its long and fascinating history, is among the world’s greatest cultures.
- I would also like to congratulate China on being awarded the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. It is the first time that the same city will have hosted both the summer and winter games. We will be only too pleased to offer our expertise to the games in Beijing if desired.
This is the festive period between our New Year and the Chinese New Year. The 28th of January marks the start of the year of the rooster. The roster symbolises reliability, honesty and communication. In Switzerland, China has a reliable, honest partner that values dialogue – quite in line with the positive characteristics of the rooster.
Relations between our two countries are excellent. I for my part am delighted to speak about how we can further deepen these relations. On that note, I once again welcome you, Mr President, your wife and the entire delegation to Switzerland!
Address for enquiries
Communication DETEC, +41 58 462 55 11
Publisher
General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications; General Secretariat DETEC
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