China's Xi urges stronger cooperation with Europe

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged stronger cooperation between China and Europe during separate meetings on Friday with the Swiss and German presidents, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

During talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Xi urged the two countries to "send out a positive message of choosing openness and cooperation over isolation and confrontation.”

"The essence of China-EU trade and economic relations lies in complementarity and mutual benefit," said Xi, urging "mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation."

He acknowledged that China-EU relations "have gone through a lot," but said some problems "arising in the course of cooperation are problems of development and issues in the course of progress."

"As long as the two sides remain committed to the characterization of partnership and uphold dialogue on an equal footing, differences and issues can always be solved," he said.

Xi expressed hope that China and the EU would work together to promote "an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization."

Chinese president urges greater certainty in China-Europe trade ties

In a meeting with Swiss President Guy Parmelin, Xi encouraged closer cooperation to build confidence and certainty in China-Europe economic and trade ties and the global economy, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Describing Switzerland as an important partner in Europe, Xi said cooperation between the two countries has consistently been at the forefront of China's ties with European countries.

He highlighted free trade cooperation as a key achievement in relations, saying it demonstrated both countries' commitment to openness and their role in promoting an open world economy.

China is ready to work with Switzerland to uphold openness, deepen cooperation and promote inclusive economic globalization, said Xi.

The two leaders later witnessed the signing of a protocol to upgrade their free trade agreement, along with several cooperation documents covering scientific research, employment and media.