China and Switzerland have reached a new agreement to upgrade the free trade agreement between the two countries, following a meeting in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin.
The two leaders met on Friday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People, during an official visit by Parmelin to China. The Swiss president said negotiations on upgrading the existing free trade agreement had been concluded.
After the meeting, and with both heads of state present, a document on the upgrade was signed along with several further agreements covering cooperation in scientific research, employment and the media.
Xi said the two countries had been able to maintain free trade cooperation despite a global backdrop of rising unilateralism and protectionism. He said cooperation in innovation should be strengthened further on the basis of mutual benefit and shared gains.
Both governments are focusing on expanding cooperation in emerging sectors including the digital economy, green energy and artificial intelligence, according to the report.
The meeting also falls in the year marking a decade since China and Switzerland established their innovation strategic partnership.
The agreement was reported in Sri Lanka by Hiru News. No other verified newsroom monitored by this desk had carried an account of the Beijing meeting at the time of writing.
