China and Switzerland co-sponsored in Beijing a Conference on FTA and Industrial Exchange
Source: mofcom Date: 2009-05-11
China and Switzerland co-sponsored in Beijing a Conference on FTA and Industrial Exchange on April 27, 2009. Yi Xiaozhun, Deputy Minister of Commerce, and Blaise Godet, Switzerland Ambassador to China, were present and addressed at the conference. About 100 representatives and experts from government departments, industrial associations, enterprises, and research institutions of the two countries attended the conference.
Deputy Minister Yi Xiaozhun said in his speech that it was of great significance for China and Switzerland to cosponsor a conference on FTA and Industrial Exchange at a time of coping with the financial crisis and promoting recovery of the world economy, and it was an important measure for the two countries to work together and joint efforts to overcome difficulties in promotion of a fair and open world trade environment. China and Switzerland are strongly complementary in resources and mix of industries, which is a solid foundation for exploring the feasibility of establishing FTA. And this conference shall give a clearer prospect on a Sino-Swiss FTA.
Blaise Godet stressed that this conference was the first and an important step toward a Sino-Swiss FTA. Since China’s implementation of reform and opening-up policy in 1978, Sino-Swiss bilateral trade has grown rapidly. In 2008, bilateral trade reached CHF11.1 billion, 30 times of which in 1980. China became Switzerland’s most important trading partner in Asia in 2002. Switzerland is confident that the establishment of FTA could promote the development of bilateral trade and two-way investment.
During the two-day conference, representatives from textile, machinery and watch industry of the two countries discusses such issues as the current industrial situations, development prospects and opportunities and adjustments that may be brought into respective industries of the two countries by establishing FTA, and lay a foundation for joining efforts in a feasibility study on FTA.
Deputy Minister Yi Xiaozhun said in his speech that it was of great significance for China and Switzerland to cosponsor a conference on FTA and Industrial Exchange at a time of coping with the financial crisis and promoting recovery of the world economy, and it was an important measure for the two countries to work together and joint efforts to overcome difficulties in promotion of a fair and open world trade environment. China and Switzerland are strongly complementary in resources and mix of industries, which is a solid foundation for exploring the feasibility of establishing FTA. And this conference shall give a clearer prospect on a Sino-Swiss FTA.
Blaise Godet stressed that this conference was the first and an important step toward a Sino-Swiss FTA. Since China’s implementation of reform and opening-up policy in 1978, Sino-Swiss bilateral trade has grown rapidly. In 2008, bilateral trade reached CHF11.1 billion, 30 times of which in 1980. China became Switzerland’s most important trading partner in Asia in 2002. Switzerland is confident that the establishment of FTA could promote the development of bilateral trade and two-way investment.
During the two-day conference, representatives from textile, machinery and watch industry of the two countries discusses such issues as the current industrial situations, development prospects and opportunities and adjustments that may be brought into respective industries of the two countries by establishing FTA, and lay a foundation for joining efforts in a feasibility study on FTA.
