Beijing, November 28th—Ma Hui, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with a delegation of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland led by Thomas Aeschi, chairman of the committee on free trade and European affairs of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland.

Ma made positive comments on China-Switzerland relations and said that Switzerland was among the first Western countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Switzerland. China is willing to work with Switzerland to further upgrade bilateral relations and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including exchanges between political parties. Accelerating negotiations on upgrading the free trade agreement between the two countries is a practical action to safeguard multilateralism and free trade.

Aeschi said, Switzerland-China relations have enjoyed sound development currently, with close high-level exchanges. Switzerland, as always, attaches importance to cooperation with China and expects the two sides to inject new impetus into bilateral relations through upgrading the free trade agreement. In today's turbulent world, Switzerland is willing to work with China to practice multilateralism and promote peaceful settlement of regional conflicts.