Chinese premier arrives in Switzerland for Davos forum, working visit

Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Zurich to attend the World Economic Forum annual meeting 2015 in Davos, Switzerland and pay a working visit to the country, on Jan 20, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

ZURICH, Switzerland - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived here Tuesday to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos and pay a working visit to Switzerland.

Li, who is visiting at the invitation of the WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab and the Federal Council of Switzerland, will deliver a key-note speech at the meeting and meet representatives of the International Business Council of the forum during his three-day trip.

Li will also meet with President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga during his second visit to the Alpine country as Chinese premier.

The visit comes as China and Switzerland are set to celebrate the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

The two-way trade volume between the two countries grew by 126 percent year on year to hit nearly 60 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, when they inked a free trade agreement (FTA), the first between China and a country in continental Europe.

According to the FTA, almost all Chinese exports to Switzerland are immediately exempt from tariffs, while nearly 85 percent of Swiss exports to China will eventually be duty free.

Li's visit to Switzerland, China's 5th largest trade partner in Europe, is widely believed to advance bilateral cooperation in such areas as finance and people-to-people exchanges, among others.

This year's meeting, which will take place from Wednesday to Saturday in Davos-Klosters, is to be themed "The New Global Context."

Over 2,500 representatives from more than 140 countries, regions and international organizations are expected to attend the annual gathering and exchange views on a wide range of issues like global economy, environment protection and non-traditional security, in the renowned Swiss mountain resort.