On January 22, 2014, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with President of the Swiss Confederation and Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter in Montreux, Switzerland.

Wang Yi said, Innovation marks the dominant trait of China-Switzerland relations. For the past 60 plus years since the establishment of China-Switzerland diplomatic relationship, both sides have seized every opportunity in every important historical period, advancing with the times, to conduct innovations, and to promote the bilateral relations for continuous progress. The free trade agreement signed by China and Switzerland is the first one between China and an European country. It becomes a landmark event in bilateral relations, and has started to produce a very positive impact on the bilateral relations, especially on the economic and trade cooperation. We believe that the agreement officially taking effect will bring a greater motive power for the development of China-Switzerland relations.

Didier Burkhalter fully agreed with Foreign Minister Wang Yi for his comment that Switzerland-China relationship is innovative, practical and of partnership. The Swiss side is glad to see the development of the current Switzerland-China relations, and is willing to uphold the spirit of innovation and being practical to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China in political, financial, economic, trade and other fields, and to further strengthen Switzerland-China partnership.