On August 20, Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland, met with Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Bern. The two sides jointly announced the conclusion of negotiations on the enhancement of the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and signed a memorandum of understanding. Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Qian Minjian and Swiss Ambassador to China Krystyna Marty Lang, among others, were present at the event.

Wang Wentao said that in January 2026, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to President Parmelin, stressing that China stands ready to work with Switzerland to continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation and elevate China-Switzerland relations to new heights. In September 2024, China and Switzerland launched negotiations on the enhancement of the China-Switzerland FTA. Through the joint efforts of both sides and after five rounds of negotiations, the enhancement negotiations were successfully concluded. The two sides commit to pursue higher-standard, two-way opening up in multiple areas, including trade in goods, trade in services, investment and rules, which will create fresh opportunities for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Switzerland is an important cooperation partner for China and has always been in the forefront in cooperating with China. In the current international environment full of uncertainties, this also demonstrates the two sides' committed pursuit of certainty and support for free trade. This year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and the 10th anniversary of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership. The Ministry of Commerce of China is ready to work with the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland to implement the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries and formally sign and implement the enhanced FTA at an early date, so as to enhance and upgrade bilateral economic and trade ties and bring greater benefits to Chinese and Swiss peoples and businesses.

Guy Parmelin noted that Switzerland and China enjoy close cooperation, and the bilateral economic and trade relationship is full of vigor. The Swiss government and industry attach great importance to economic and trade cooperation with China. The FTA has played an important role in bilateral cooperation. Its successful enhancement represents another major milestone in the development of bilateral relations, which will provide more stable, transparent and predictable institutional guarantee for the long-term development of Chinese and Swiss businesses, while sending a positive signal that both China and Switzerland are committed to advancing open cooperation, promoting free trade and safeguarding the rules-based international economic and trade environment. Switzerland is ready to take the FTA enhancement as an opportunity to further expand trade and investment cooperation with China, deepen the innovative strategic partnership and continue to offer an open, just and non-discriminatory business environment to Chinese businesses in Switzerland.

Signed in July 2013 and effective starting from July 2014, the China-Switzerland FTA is the first free trade agreement China has signed with a country on the European continent. Following the conclusion of the enhancement negotiations, the two sides will expeditiously complete their respective domestic procedures in order to formally sign the enhancement protocol as early as possible.