On July 26th, Zhang Xu, vice minister of culture and tourism, met with newly-appointed Swiss Ambassador Bernardino Regazzoni. The two sides had an in-depth conversation on further developing China-Switzerland exchanges and cooperation in culture and tourism.
Zhang Xu said Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with China. And the governments of both sides attach great importance to the exchanges and cooperation in culture and tourism. During President Xi’s state visit to Switzerland in 2017, the two sides signed a new China-Switzerland Cooperation Agreement on Culture, and started the China-Switzerland Tourism Year 2017. As the year of 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland, he hoped two sides will encourage and support cultural and art institutions to hold celebrations on this occasion and bring the bilateral cultural relations to a new level. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen cooperation with Switzerland within the Belt and Road framework so as to develop the mechanism of cultural exchanges and strengthen the people-to-people bond.
Regazzoni said that cultural exchange is an essential part of the Belt and Road Initiative. It plays a significant role in promoting mutual understanding between countries and peoples. During his tenure, he will make full use of cultural exchange to achieve fruitful results . He also said the Swiss side welcomes the Chinese side to hold tourism promotion in Switzerland to attract more Swiss tourists to China, considering great .potential in tourism cooperation between two sides.