The upcoming visit to Switzerland by China's top lawmaker "will undoubtedly strengthen" the ties and friendship between the two countries, Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said.
"The visit of Mr. Wu Bangguo is of utmost importance to us," Calmy-Rey said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
For the first time, Switzerland has the honor to welcome Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, and he will be received by Switzerland's highest officials, Calmy-Rey said.
The minister described the current relations between Switzerland and China as "excellent."
"Switzerland was among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China and our diplomatic relations were established in 1950. We are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year," she said.
"Over the past 60 years our political and economic relations have expanded and diversified in an extremely dynamic fashion, now reaching a gratifying maturity."
Calmy-Rey pointed out that in 2007, China and Switzerland signed a Memorandum of Understanding institutionalizing a political dialogue between the two countries.
"This framework document is very important for strengthening our bilateral relations," she said.
There have been many high-level exchanges this year with more to come.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang visited Switzerland in January.
"For my part, I have just returned from a working visit to China and in the coming weeks both the president and the vice president of the Confederation will visit China in their turn," she said.
Concerning future relations between the two countries, Calmy-Rey said "the maturity that our relationship has reached allows us to envisage our bilateral future with optimism."
"The deep and lasting friendship which is maintained between our two countries has allowed us to develop rich and diverse relations at all levels," she said.
The minister said Switzerland welcomes the continued growth of the volume of bilateral trade and hopes to soon begin negotiations on a free trade treaty with China.
Calmy-Rey said her recent trip to China "went very well" and that she was "delighted by her visit to Shanghai, which allowed her to fully appreciate the Expo 2010."
"I thank the Chinese authorities for their welcome and hospitality," she said.
