Switzerland vows to further participate in Belt and Road
By Xie Jiayun |
Updated: 2018-11-15 16:28
In order to further promote the building of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the bilateral cooperation in various areas like politics, the economy and culture, the Swiss-China World Silk Road Association was launched on Nov 14 in the Swiss Embassy in China. Representatives of two countries gathered together to talk about the future of the Sino-Swiss relationship, the aims of the association and areas with prospects for cooperation.
China and Switzerland established diplomatic relations in 1950. According to Jean-Jacques de Dardel, ambassador of Switzerland to China, the relationship between the two countries is not just symbolic but is built on the mutual recognition.
The “Swiss Path”, as Jean-Jacques de Dardel refers to the Silk Road between China and Switzerland, is pioneering. “We were almost the first to cooperate with China in so many areas. We established the earliest joint venture between a Chinese company and a Western company as well as the bilateral human right dialogue. Switzerland also first accepted the notion of the market economy in China. And we were first in continental Europe to sign the free trade agreement in modern times.”
As a non-profit organization, the association is aimed at cooperation in four main aspects — governments, business, academy and science, along with culture and tourism.
After giving a brief introduction of its committee members, Claude Béglé, member of Federal Parliament of Switzerland and chairman of the Swiss-China World Silk Road Association talked about the main dimensions of work they would start to take up — governmental cooperation, environmental protection — with joint efforts of The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, as well as the digital economy.
Among them, environmental protection in the Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Qinghai province was given great importance. “Three weeks ago, I visited Yushu located in the ‘source of three rivers’ region and found there were many things we could put our efforts into,” said Béglé.
According to him, the government and organizations could cooperate with each other to make better use of water resource, since the Lancang River stretches over six countries. The association will offer its support in comprehensive utilization of river resources and traditional Tibetan medicine. Additionally, it plans to work with the local schools on very concrete projects like water resources management.
The establishment of the association was under the support of Chinese government, according to Li Shan, member of the National Committee of CPPCC and vice-chairman of the Silk Road Planning Research Center.
“There is a solid cornerstone that lies in Sino-Swiss cooperation. And China can learn from the Swiss technological and economic experience. Still, the first step is always the hardest. It’s paramount for the association to start with the specific and concrete work.”
The use of big data to analyze the way to build the infrastructure of the Belt and Road Initiative was also mentioned in the launch. “The establishment of the association is of far-reaching significance. It’s expected to make great contribution to the promotion of Belt and Road Initiative.” Li Shan added.
In order to further promote the building of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the bilateral cooperation in various areas like politics, the economy and culture, the Swiss-China World Silk Road Association was launched on Nov 14 in the Swiss Embassy in China. Representatives of two countries gathered together to talk about the future of the Sino-Swiss relationship, the aims of the association and areas with prospects for cooperation.
China and Switzerland established diplomatic relations in 1950. According to Jean-Jacques de Dardel, ambassador of Switzerland to China, the relationship between the two countries is not just symbolic but is built on the mutual recognition.
The “Swiss Path”, as Jean-Jacques de Dardel refers to the Silk Road between China and Switzerland, is pioneering. “We were almost the first to cooperate with China in so many areas. We established the earliest joint venture between a Chinese company and a Western company as well as the bilateral human right dialogue. Switzerland also first accepted the notion of the market economy in China. And we were first in continental Europe to sign the free trade agreement in modern times.”
As a non-profit organization, the association is aimed at cooperation in four main aspects — governments, business, academy and science, along with culture and tourism.
After giving a brief introduction of its committee members, Claude Béglé, member of Federal Parliament of Switzerland and chairman of the Swiss-China World Silk Road Association talked about the main dimensions of work they would start to take up — governmental cooperation, environmental protection — with joint efforts of The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, as well as the digital economy.
Among them, environmental protection in the Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Qinghai province was given great importance. “Three weeks ago, I visited Yushu located in the ‘source of three rivers’ region and found there were many things we could put our efforts into,” said Béglé.
According to him, the government and organizations could cooperate with each other to make better use of water resource, since the Lancang River stretches over six countries. The association will offer its support in comprehensive utilization of river resources and traditional Tibetan medicine. Additionally, it plans to work with the local schools on very concrete projects like water resources management.
The establishment of the association was under the support of Chinese government, according to Li Shan, member of the National Committee of CPPCC and vice-chairman of the Silk Road Planning Research Center.
“There is a solid cornerstone that lies in Sino-Swiss cooperation. And China can learn from the Swiss technological and economic experience. Still, the first step is always the hardest. It’s paramount for the association to start with the specific and concrete work.”
The use of big data to analyze the way to build the infrastructure of the Belt and Road Initiative was also mentioned in the launch. “The establishment of the association is of far-reaching significance. It’s expected to make great contribution to the promotion of Belt and Road Initiative.” Li Shan added.
