I. Political relations
Switzerland gave its recognition to the People's Republic of China on January 17, 1950 and on September 14 the same year China established diplomatic relations with Switzerland with minister-counselor sent to each other. China and Switzerland upgraded their diplomatic relations to ambassadorial level respectively in January 1956 and April 1957.
In November 1951, Switzerland set up its consulate-general in Shanghai which was closed on December 31, 1962. And on April 26, 1995 the Swiss Consulate-general was reopened in Shanghai.
On April 1, 1954, China set up its consulate-general in Geneva. It was closed in September 1988 and the Chinese consulate-general was opened in Zurich.
Switzerland is one of the earliest western countries which recognized and established diplomatic relations with China. Over the past 50 years and more since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, the two countries have witnessed a smooth development of their relations. On entering into 1990s, the relations between the two countries gained a further development. Especially, during the recent years the mutual visits at high levels are quite frequent with a continuous expansion of cooperation in economy and trade and an increasing closeness of exchanges and cooperation in every field.
1.Important visits
On June 12, 1954, Premier and concurrently Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhou Enlai who attended the Geneva Conference paid a by-way-of visit to the Government of the Confederation of Switzerland.
On May 29, 1961, Vice-premier Chen Yi who attended the Geneva Conference went to Bern calling on Wahlen President of the Confederation of Switzerland and Minister of Foreign Affairs Petitpierre.
In May 1973, Former Swiss Minister of foreign affairs Petitpierre visited China; in June, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Spuhler visited China.
In August 1974, Member of the Confederation of Switzerland Graber visited China. He is the first one of the Confederation of Switzerland who paid an official visit to China after the establishment of the diplomatic relations of the two countries.
In April 1975, Member of the Confederation of Switzerland and minister of communications and power Ritschard paid a visit to China.
In May 1978, Vice-premier Gu Mu visited the Switzerland.
In April 1979, the delegation of the NPPCC headed by Vice-chairman Rong Yiren paid a visit to the Confederation of Switzerland.
In June 1982, Member of the State Council and Minister of foreign affairs Huang Hua made a by-way-of visit to Switzerland, who was met and entertained by Aubert Vice-president of the Confederation and concurrently minister of foreign affairs.
In June 1985, the delegation of the NPC headed by Vice-chairman Liao Hansheng paid a visit to Switzerland.
In November 1986, Vice-president of the Swiss Confederation and concurrently minister of foreign affairs Aubert visited China.
In March 1987, Member of the State Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Xueqian paid a visit to Switzerland.
In January 1992, Premier Li Peng visited Switzerland.
In January 1994, Chairman of the NPC Qiao Shi visited Switzerland.
In January 1995, Vice-premier Zhu Rongji visited Switzerland; in April, Member of the Swiss Confederation and concurrently minister of foreign affairs Cotti visited China; in May, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Swiss Parliament Frey and Confederation Kutchler headed the Swiss Parliament Delegation to visit China. This was the first visit made jointly by the speakers of the two Swiss assemblies to China.
In October, Vice-president of the Swiss Confederation and concurrently minister in charge of economy Delamuraz headed a trade delegation to visit China.
In September 1996, Chairman of the NPPCC Li Ruihuan visited the Switzerland; in October, President of the Swiss Confederation Delamuraz visited China and this was the first time for Swiss President to visit China.
In April 1997, Chief of the General Staff of the Swiss Army Lieutenant General Liener paid an official visit to China and this was the first time for Swiss chief of the general staff to visit China since the establishment of the diplomatic relations of the two countries.
In February 1998, Vice-premier Li Lanqing visited the Switzerland.
In March 1999, President of the PRC visited Switzerland. This was the first time for the Chinese head of the state to visit Switzerland since the establishment of the diplomatic relations of China and Switzerland.
In January 2000, Vice-premier Wu Bangguo visited Switzerland;in June, Vice-premier Wen Jiabao visited Switzerland.
In September 2000, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries President Jiang Zemin with President Adolf Ogi of the Swiss Confederation and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan with Swiss foreign minister Josef Deiss sent congratulatory messages to each other, and the same month saw Swiss President Ogi come to visit China and attend the celebration activities for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations of the two countries.
In June 2002, alternative member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC, Secretary of the Secretariat, Chief of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee Zeng Qinghong visited Switzerland, and the two sides signed the "Understanding Memorandum for Technical Cooperation of Administration and Management Training between the Two Governments of China and Switzerland".
In April 2003, Member of the Swiss Confederation and Minister of National Defence Schmidt paid a visit to China, and in May Member of the Swiss Confederation and concurrently Minister of Foreign Affairs Calmy-Rey visited China. In June that year, President Hu Jintao, having attended the non-official dialogue conference of the North and South Leaders, had a stopover in Switzerland and met with the Swiss Confederation President Couchepin
2. Relations of friendship cities
In 1982, the Chinese city Kunming formed friendly relations with the Swiss city Zurich.
In 1994, the Chinese city Changsha formed friendship cities with the Swiss city Fribourg.
II. Bilateral trade relations
In December 1974, China and Switzerland signed the "Sino-Swiss Trade Agreement" and established a Mixed Commission for Sino-Swiss Trade.In 1979, the Swiss government offered China treatment of general preferences scheme.
1.Bilateral trade
Switzerland is the biggest trade partner in Western Europe in exception of the European Community. The year of 2002 saw the Sino-Swiss trade value to reach US$ 2.67 billion, an increase of 12.3 percent as against that of the same period of the year before. The Chinese import mainly includes: machinery and electronics, chemicals and medicines while the Chinese export mainly covers primarily processed products and raw materials and recent years saw the continuous increase in the ratio of manufactured goods featuring textile goods, mechanic and electric products and chemicals and so on.
2.Financial cooperation
In 1984, 1987 1991 and 1995, the Chinese government and the Swiss government respectively signed agreements for fours sums of mixed loans, totally amounting to SF350 million, which was used on more than 50 projects. In June 2002, the two sides signed the "Sino-Swiss Financing Memorandum for Environmental Protection Projects". In October 1996, Sino-Swiss governments signed the "Understanding Memorandum on Establishment of Fund Financing for Sino-Swiss Projects of Joint Ventures". In January 1998, the "Sino-Swiss Cooperation Fund" was officially established, aiming at providing the Sino-Swiss medium and small joint-venture enterprises and other forms of cooperation with financing supports.
3.Investment to China
Switzerland started its investment to China in 1982. The first joint-venture enterprise China approved is the Sino-Swiss Joint Venture Schindler Elevator Co. Ltd. Up to the end of 2002, the projects Switzerland invested in China reached 531 in all with a contracted value of US$ 2.441 billion while the actual investment was US$ 1.715 billion. The Swiss invested projects in China are mainly concentrated on electric appliances, machinery, medicines and chemicals and foodstuffs as well with the invested areas focusing along the coastal cities and special economic zones.
4. Finance cooperation
At present, Switzerland has four banks (Credit Swiss First Boston Bank, Swiss Bank, Swiss Zurich Bank and UBS) and three insurance companies (Winterthur Reinsurance, Zurich Insurance Co. and Swiss Reassurance Co.), setting up a total of 15 agencies and 4 branch business offices in China Among them, Credit Swiss First Boston Bank and Winterthur Reinsurance have respectively opened up branches in Shanghai. The Winterthur Swiss Insurance was the first one from Europe approved by China to set up its business office in China. Up to now, the applications of the Zurich Insurance and Swiss Reassurance for setting up business offices in China have been approved and the business branches are in the process of being set up.
5.Technological cooperation
Switzerland is one of the major countries from which China introduced in technologies. From 1979 to the end of 2002, China has signed contracts for the introduction of some 950 items of technologies with the contracted value adding up to US$2.115 billion. Among them those technologies introduced into China in 2002 came to 84 items with a contracted value of 139 million in US dollars
III. Cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and technology and tourism
1.Cultural exchanges
In recent years the Sino-Swiss cultural exchanges have witnessed a constant expansion with the artistic performance troupes coming and going to perform in each other's country, such as ballet dance troupe, philharmonic orchestra and opera troupes. The two sides also exchanged some shows and exhibitions in the aspects of tourism, paintings, films and arts and so on. Besides the exchanges between the people-to-people friendly organizations and groups are becoming increasingly active. In March 1999, the Sino-Swiss governments signed "Statement of Intention for Sino-Swiss Cultural Cooperation". On November 25, 1998, China and Switzerland had a joint issuance of stamps for the first time.
2.Educational exchanges
Starting from 1978, China began to send students to study in Switzerland. At present, the registered Chinese students studying in Switzerland numbered 858 in total (by the end of 2002). The year of 2002 registered a total of 118 students, of whom 25 were sent by the state, 8 by some units and 85 at their own expenses. Setting off from 1963 China began to accept Swiss students to study in China. The Swiss students to study in China with scholarships centered mainly on liberal arts. In 2002, the Swiss students coming to study in China numbered 220 in all, of whom the long-term students took up 92 while the short-term ones came to 128 in number. Two Swiss technological institutes of higher learning and 8 state-run universities or colleges have established 18 items of exchanges and cooperation with more than 10 Chinese universities or units for scientific researches. In March 1999, the Sino-Swiss governments signed the "Letter of Intention for Sino-Swiss Exchanges and Cooperation in Higher Education" and in 2002, the two sides had the valid period prolonged to 2005.
3.Technological exchanges
In February 1989, the two governments of China and Switzerland signed the "Sino-Swiss Agreement for Technological Cooperation", thereby establishing formally the intergovernmental relations of technological cooperation. In April 1995, the Chinese National Science and Technology Commission signed with the Swiss National Scientific Research Foundation the "Memorandum for Sci-tech Cooperation". As to the people-to-people sci-tech exchanges and cooperation the counterparts of the two countries signed a series of agreements for cooperation, carrying on all kinds of cooperative activities.
4.Cooperation in tourism industry
In May 1998, the National Tourism Administration of China set up its tourist office in Zurich of Switzerland. In March 1999, the Swiss National Tourism Office was established in Beijing. In November 2001, the Yulong Snow-mountain of Yunnan formed the sister-mountain peaks with the Swiss Mt. Matterhorn. In July 2002, the Huangshan Mountain of Anhui formed the sister-mountain peaks with a Swiss mountain peak Jungfrau.
