On the afternoon of August 26, 2025, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji held talks with President of the Council of States of Switzerland Andrea Caroni at the Great Hall of the People.

Zhao Leji said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland 75 years ago, bilateral relations have developed steadily, vividly illustrating the cooperation spirit featuring equality, innovation and win-win results. China is ready to work with Switzerland to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries and promote the continuous development of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership.

Zhao Leji stated that this year has witnessed close high-level exchanges between China and Switzerland. He expressed the hope that the two sides will maintain this sound momentum, make good use of exchange mechanisms in various fields, deepen the understanding of each other's national conditions and domestic and foreign policies, and further enhance strategic mutual trust. Noting that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, Zhao Leji expressed the hope that the Swiss side will abide by the one-China principle and support China's efforts to achieve national reunification. Since the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement came into effect, it has played a significant role in promoting the growth of bilateral investment and trade. Zhao Leji expressed the hope that both sides will accelerate negotiations on upgrading the agreement, further expand the pie of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and speed up the cultivation of growth drivers for cooperation in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and unmanned aerial vehicles. China is ready to work with Switzerland to jointly uphold the multilateral trading system, ensure the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and maintain an open and cooperative international environment. The two countries should take the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations as an opportunity to enhance multilateral cooperation, maintain world peace and stability, and join hands to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Zhao Leji noted that China's NPC is ready to work with the Swiss Federal Parliament to enhance friendly exchanges between high-level legislative bodies, special committees, bilateral friendship groups, and between deputies to the NPC and parliamentarians. The two sides should leverage their respective characteristics and advantages to promote and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and contribute to the development of China-Switzerland relations.

Zhao Leji introduced China's efforts in upholding the development philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared growth, and promoting sustainable development. He said that China and Switzerland share many similarities and commonalities in terms of development philosophy. He expressed the hope that both sides will strengthen exchanges and mutual learning to inject more stability and positive energy into a changing and turbulent world.

Andrea Caroni said that China is an important participant in the world economy and global governance, and an important partner of Switzerland. The relationship between the two countries is of strategic significance. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and China 75 years ago, the two sides have always upheld mutual respect and carried out fruitful cooperation in a wide range of fields. Switzerland adheres to the one-China policy. The Council of States of Switzerland is willing to enhance friendly exchanges with China's NPC, promote cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including economy, science and technology, culture, education, tourism, and at the sub-national level, advance the negotiations on upgrading the free trade agreement, and strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.

Xiao Jie attended the talks.