The celebration activity of the 70th anniversary of Swiss and Chinese Association & the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Switzerland and China was held in Basle on June, 13th, 2015. About 300 personages in various areas including Hu Sishe, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC), H.E. Mme. Xu Jinghu, Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland, Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Federal Councilor and Foreign Minister, Thomas Wagner , President of Swiss and Chinese Association, Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, former Swiss Federal Councilor, Felix Gutzwiller, Chairman of Committee of Foreign Affairs of Federal Assembly, Jean-Jacques De Dardel, Swiss Ambassador to China, Uli Sigg, , Dominique Dreyer , Blaise Gode, former Swiss Ambassadors to China , attended the activity.
Vice president Hu Sishe expressed his warm congratulation on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Swiss and Chinese Association and admired the important function and dedication of the association to promoting the people-to-people friendship and local pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. He said, China Switzerland relation is developing smoothly in recent years and the cooperation in various fields has entered into a fast lane. Premier Li Keqiang visited Switzerland in January this year, and reached an important consensus with the Swiss national leaders on deepening two countries’ pragmatic cooperation in various fields, which pushes forward the relation between the two countries and creates new development opportunities. CPAFFC will join hands with Swiss and Chinese Association to make unremitting efforts on promoting the cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter spoke highly of the great comprehensive achievements that Switzerland and China have acquired. He admired Swiss and Chinese Association for its contribution to enhancing mutual understanding and people’s friendship. He said, Switzerland cherishes the relationship and cooperation with China and looks forward to constantly scaling new height of two countries` relationship, with the inspiration of pioneer and mutual respect.
Ambassador Xu Jinghu said in her speech, China-Switzerland relation has been keeping pace with the time for 65 years and shows innovative, pragmatic and equal features. She believed that under the joint efforts, China-Switzerland relations would reach a new height at the new starting point of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties of China and Switzerland.
President Thomas Wagner said that the traditional friendship of China and Switzerland is the solid foundation and important power for the development of the two countries’ relations. He also expressed that Swiss and Chinese Association would like to further the exchanges and cooperation with CPAFFC, so as to make new contribution to promoting the development of China-Switzerland relations in a sustainable and healthy way, as well as to expanding and deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation.
This year is the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations of China and Switzerland. CPAFFC will hold a reception marking this event in September. By then, the delegation from Swiss and Chinese Association will visit China and President Thomas Wagner will be invited to make a review on China-Switzerland relations.
