Beijing, January 16th—Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Isabelle Moret, President of the National Council of the Swiss Federal Assembly.

Song said that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Switzerland. Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to recognize and establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 70 years ago, the two sides have upheld the pioneering spirit and the concept of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, setting a good example for win-win cooperation among countries of different social systems, stages of development and sizes. President Moret's visit to the IDCPC shows that the Swiss side attaches great importance to developing relations between the political parties of the two countries. The CPC also attaches great importance to exchanges with the political parties of Switzerland. Political party exchanges are of great significance to promoting the development of state-to-state relations. The CPC is willing to continue to promote and expand exchanges with the major political parties of Switzerland through various channels, strive to build a new type of political party relationship featuring mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences and mutual learning, and jointly push the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership to a new level.

Song also briefed on the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and expressed willingness to strengthen mutual learning with Switzerland, and jointly improve governance capacity and level to better promote respective development.

Moret said that the two countries established diplomatic relations 70 years ago and bilateral friendly cooperative relations have been developing continuously since then. I chose China for my first official visit as President of the National Council, and I want to carry on and maintain the tradition of friendship between Switzerland and China at this important historical moment. Moret said that Switzerland pays close attention to the CPC’s experience in state governance and is willing to promote various forms of exchanges between the political parties of Switzerland and China to inject new impetus into the development of Switzerland-China relations.

Qian Hongshan, Vice-minister of the IDCPC, was present.

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