China and Switzerland celebrate '75 years of success'

On January 17, 1950, the Swiss president Max Petitpierre wrote a telegram to the Chinese government expressing a desire to open official diplomatic relations.

75 years later that relationship is being marked by a series of events in both nations.

Switzerland is a home of diplomacy and prides itself on its neutrality, and was one of the first Western nations to recognisz the People's Republic of China.

"Firstly, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and China, which marks 75 years of success," Ignazio Cassis, Swiss Foreign Minister said.

"Secondly, the innovative strategic partnership functions very well, which is great, and it is important that we further promote it."

China-Switzerland trade

Bilateral trade between China and Switzerland was worth $62.78 billion in 2024, and Switzerland is one of the few countries with a trade surplus with China last year.

Swiss exports are dominated by pharmaceuticals, machinery, and luxury goods like watches.

"Switzerland is an export-oriented and market-oriented economy with a population of only nine million. It is impossible for us to achieve prosperity only by relying on the small domestic market in Switzerland," added Cassis.

"Therefore, promoting free trade is of vital importance to our prosperity and security, we seek bilateral cooperation with countries such as China to safeguard free trade as much as possible and ensure the prosperity and security of our country.

"Over the past six years, Swiss goods export to China doubled and its import from China increased by 60 percent. It is a story of success."

Economic ties go back a long way too, the Swiss watchmaker Rado was the first foreign brand to advertise on Chinese television in 1979, and Schindler, the Swiss elevator manufacturer, established the first Western industrial joint venture with a Chinese partner in 1980.

"In 2014, Switzerland become the first country on the European continent to sign a free trade agreement with China. This is a giant step in the history of our two countries and it has great significance," Cassis said.

High-level China-U.S. trade talks

Switzerland has had many high-level Chinese visits in recent years, in 2017 Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the country, Premier Li Qiang was here in 2024 and Vice-Premier He Lifeng visited Geneva last month, meeting Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter.

All eyes were suddenly on the city during that visit when crucial trade talks took place between China and the United States.

Switzerland, famous for its neutrality, worked hard behind the scenes to help the world's two largest economies sit down at the same table where they worked out a pause on a de-facto trade embargo, dropping mutual tariffs by 115 percent.

He Lifeng was China's lead negotiator.

"I would like to take this opportunity to give our special thanks to the Swiss government, for hosting us here this time, for their enormous support and warm hospitality," he said at a Chinese delegation press conference.

A win for the global economy was a win for Switzerland too, re-establishing itself as a key player in conflict resolution.

Now 75-year celebrations continue to mark a relationship that always seems to get its timing right.