China and Switzerland have agreed to promptly and officially start talks to upgrade the China-Switzerland Free Trade Agreement, said the Ministry of Commerce in an online statement on Tuesday.

During his meeting with Guy Parmelin, Switzerland's federal councilor and head of the federal department of economic affairs, education and research, in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said China is willing to promptly initiate negotiations with Switzerland to upgrade the China-Switzerland FTA, and enhance the quality of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Parmelin said that China is one of Switzerland's most important economic and trade partners. The European country highly values the positive impact of the China-Switzerland FTA, and various sectors in Switzerland, especially the business community, look forward to the early upgrade of this agreement.

During the meeting, Parmelin stressed that Switzerland has always opposed protectionism and restrictions on economic and trade cooperation.

By Zhong Nan