This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland, a partnership rooted in mutual respect and equality that has flourished over the decades.
The journey began on January 17, 1950, when Max Petitpierre, then President of the Swiss Confederation, sent a telegram to Chinese leader Mao Zedong expressing Switzerland’s willingness to establish diplomatic relations. This significant gesture made Switzerland one of the first Western countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China.
However, the ties between the two nations date back even further. The first official contact was established in 1906, and in 1918, the two countries signed a treaty of friendship, formalizing their relations. The decision in 1950 to deepen these relations was considered a milestone in their shared history.
Jean-Jacques de Dardel, who served as the Swiss Ambassador to China from 2014 to 2019, reflected on this pivotal moment. “The decision was taken because we acknowledged the new China and its governments,” he said. “What happened then was a milestone.”
Following China’s reform and opening-up policy launched in 1979, bilateral relations rapidly expanded. In 2007, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to enhance high-level political consultations and strengthen bilateral relations in all areas.
Mao Jun, currently in charge of the affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Bern, highlighted the remarkable achievements in cooperation between the two countries over the years. “Political mutual trust has continued to deepen,” he said in an exclusive interview. “Under the guidance of the head-of-state diplomacy, China and Switzerland have established an innovative strategic partnership, which is the only one marked by innovation among the strategic partnerships established between China and other countries.”
As China and Switzerland celebrate this significant anniversary, both nations look forward to continuing their close and mutually beneficial relationship, fostering greater collaboration and understanding in the years to come.
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China and Switzerland mark 75 years of ties, hail equality and respect
cgtn.com
