Jean-Jacques de Dardel, Switzerland's ambassador
Switzerland is looking forward to China renewing its commitments to multilateralism, open economies and free trade during the two sessions, Swiss Ambassador to China Jean-Jacques de Dardel said. ambassador
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[Photo/China Daily] |
"Chinese foreign policy is geared toward multilateralism, openness of market and free trade," de Dardel told China Daily.
"The creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is welcome proof that China is ready to not only focus on bilateral relations, but to operate in a multilateral sphere," he added.
Speaking highly of speeches made by President Xi Jinping in January during his trip to Switzerland, de Dardel said that he hopes China will continue to be dedicated to openness and free trade.
"The two sessions will bring more substance to what Iheardin Davos, Geneva and Bernrecently," he added.
The Swiss ambassador hailed China's Belt and Road Initiative as "a clever move", which he said shows China's "openness, wish to engage the world and the desire to take on responsibility that goes beyond self-serving aspects of the development of trade".
During his visit to Switzerland, Xi invited Swiss President Doris Leuthard to attend the Belt and Road Initiative International Cooperation Forum Summit in Beijing in May. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of 10 cooperative agreements.
"This is obviously a golden age in our relations," the Swiss ambassador said.
Out of the Chinese government's development priorities－innovation, coordination, a green economy, openness and sharing－three are of particular interest to Switzerland: innovation, a greener society and openness, de Dardel said.
"We see on both sides how important we are to each other in so many different fields－all economic areas, trade and finance," he said, adding that the two countries could also cooperate on international affairs.
