China and Switzerland formally launched bilateral talks on a free trade last week, according to People’s Daily News.
Chinese Commerce Minister Cheng Deming expects the two countries to succeed in concluding the FTA negotiations. He was quoted saying the agreement talks between China and Switzerland have attracted huge attention and interest from the countries' leadership and business communities.
Swiss Federal Councilor Johann Schneider-Ammann said the free trade agreement would enhance trade and investment relations on a mutually beneficial basis and create many new opportunities for close exchange and cooperation.
China and Switzerland have seen fast-growing bilateral trade and investments for decade. In the past 10 years, China's exports to Switzerland have grown by 18% while Switzerland registered an even stronger 25% surge in exports to China. China is the largest trading partner of Switzerland in Asia, while Switzerland ranks ninth among China's trading partners in Europe. -- Source: People's Daily