According to the Ministry of Commerce website, on August 20th, Swiss Federal President and Minister of Economy and Education, Pamirlan, met with Chinese Deputy Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Bern. They jointly announced the completion of negotiations for upgrading the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement and the signing of a memorandum of understanding. Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Qian Minjian and Swiss Ambassador to China Martine were present at the event.
Wang Wentao said that in January 2026, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory telegram to President Pramlän, emphasizing that China is willing to work together with Switzerland to continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation and promote Sino-Swiss relations to new heights. In September 2024, both China and Switzerland launched negotiations to upgrade their free trade agreement. Through five rounds of consultations, the negotiations were successfully completed. Both sides promised to achieve higher levels of bilateral openness in various areas such as goods, services, investment, and rules. This will create new opportunities for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Switzerland is an important partner of China, and its cooperation with China has always been at the forefront. In this currently uncertain international environment, this also demonstrates the clear determination and support for free trade from both sides. This year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the innovative strategic partnership between China and Switzerland. The Ministry of Commerce of China is willing to work together with the Swiss Federal Economic and Education Research Department to implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders. We will complete the official signing and implementation of the upgraded agreement as soon as possible, promote the improvement of economic and trade relations between the two countries, and bring greater benefits to the businesses and people of both countries.
Pamran stated that Switzerland and China have close cooperation, with vibrant economic and trade relations. The Swiss government and industry place great importance on economic and trade cooperation with China. The Free Trade Agreement plays a crucial role in bilateral cooperation. Its successful upgrade is another important milestone in the development of bilateral relations. It will provide a more stable, transparent, and predictable institutional guarantee for the long-term development of enterprises from both countries. It also signals positive intentions to promote open cooperation, free trade, and the maintenance of an international economic and trade environment based on rules. Switzerland wishes to take the upgrade of the Free Trade Agreement as an opportunity to continue expanding trade and investment cooperation with China, to deepen and innovate the strategic partnership, and to continue providing an open, fair, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in Switzerland.
The China-Russia Free Trade Agreement was signed in July 2013 and came into effect in July 2014. It is the first free trade agreement signed between China and European continent countries. After this upgrading negotiations are completed, both parties will accelerate the implementation of their respective domestic procedures to officially sign the upgrading protocol at an early date.
