Amherd welcomes Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang
Published: Sunday, Jan 14th 2024, 17:00
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for a visit lasting several days. President Viola Amherd received the high-ranking state guest on the tarmac at Zurich Airport in the early afternoon.
Switzerland gave the Chinese leader an exceptional reception. It is rare for the President of the Swiss Confederation to meet a foreign head of government at the airport. Li Qiang is the highest-ranking Chinese government representative in Switzerland since President Xi Jinping's visit in 2017.
Li Qiang wants to meet the Federal Councillor in Bern on Monday. He is to be officially received with military honors at the Lohn estate near Bern. During the visit, talks will take place between the Chinese and Swiss delegations. The focus with China is likely to be on improving economic relations.
Since 2010, China has been Switzerland's most important trading partner in Asia and its third most important trading partner after the EU and the USA.
The Chinese Prime Minister, who has only been in office since March last year, is also taking part in this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos GR, which begins on Monday. China is considered an ally of Russia, and the West hopes to use Beijing to influence Moscow in the Ukraine war, for example.
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