China and Switzerland to update free trade agreement

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Swiss President Viola Amherd during his visit to Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos.

During the meeting, the parties agreed to finalize the joint work they initiated to update the existing free trade agreement.

In a statement regarding the meeting, the Swiss government noted that the consensus reached is an important step toward beginning negotiations.

The free trade agreement signed between China and Switzerland in 2013 was "the first such agreement signed by Beijing with a country in continental Europe."

It was stated that the parties also agreed to continue the dialogue process between their respective foreign ministries, and that bilateral negotiation topics would include development cooperation, mediation, and human rights.

Working groups to be established in finance, energy, and education policy

It was noted that working groups will be established in the fields of finance, energy, and education policy, and that bilateral dialogue mechanisms will be created in the areas of science, migration, labor rights, employment, intellectual property, health, and the environment.

On the other hand, it was announced that China will include Switzerland in its unilateral visa-free program. The Beijing administration had previously announced that it would provide 15-day visa-free entry for one year to citizens of six countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Malaysia.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Switzerland in 2016, the two countries defined their relationship as an "innovative strategic partnership."