On May 24, 2013, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council held talks with Swiss President Ueli Maurer in Bern. Both sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on concluding negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and announced the establishment of mechanism of financial dialogue.

Li Keqiang conveyed the cordial greetings and best wishes from President Xi Jinping. Li Keqiang said that the China-Switzerland relationship, for more than 60 years, having withstood dramatic changes of the international situations, is always substantial, keeps pace with the times, paves new ways and makes breakthroughs. China and Switzerland announced the launch of FTA negotiations during my visit to Switzerland three years ago. The both sides finally reached a mutually beneficial agreement of high level and high quality after unremitting efforts. It is the first FTA signed between China and a country in continental Europe, which has significant meaning and long-term influence on expanding and deepening economic and trade relations between China and Switzerland, as well as China and Europe. Li Keqiang said that China attaches great importance to the relations with Switzerland and is willing to join the efforts with Switzerland to firmly keep to the general direction of the bilateral relations along with the trend of development of the two countries and the world, to respect each other, to equally treat each other and respect each other's choice of their own development path. China-Switzerland relationship will surely be able to enjoy long-term sound and stable development as long as the two sides view each other as friends.

First, to take the opportunities to expand the scale and to optimize structures of investment and trade. To strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of high-end machinery manufacturing, precision instrument, biopharmaceutics, energy conservation, environmental protection and modern agriculture, to boost the rapid and comprehensive upgrade of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Second, to make good use of the new platform of the financial dialogue mechanism. To deepen cooperation in the fields of financial supervision and regulation, macro policies and improvement of capital market system. To beef up coordination and cooperation within international financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, jointly promote to set up a new international financial order featuring fairness, justice, inclusiveness and orderliness.

Third, to expand cultural and people-to-people cooperation. To enhance communication and cooperation in the areas of culture, education, tourism and personnel training and to expand people-to-people exchanges, so as to make the China-Switzerland friendship more deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples and lay a firmer foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

Fourth, to strengthen communication on regional and international affairs. China attaches great importance to the unique role Switzerland plays on the world arena, and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Switzerland on multilateral issues and within the United Nations and other international organizations, making contributions to maintain world peace and stability and promote common prosperity and development.

Maurer asked Li Keqiang to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping. Maurer said that China is a fair and reliable cooperation partner of Switzerland. China has made amazing achievements of development in recent years, and is an important force in safeguarding world peace and development. The friendly cooperative relationship between Switzerland and China enjoys a time-honoured history, a solid foundation, and broad prospects. Premier Li Keqiang's visit has achieved fruitful results. The conclusion of FTA negotiations and the launch of the financial dialogue mechanism mark another milestone in the bilateral relations. The Swiss side cherishes very much this valuable opportunity and is willing to further expand the mutually beneficial cooperation and to promote common development of the two countries.

Prior to the talks, Li Keqiang attended a grand welcome ceremony given in his honour by Maurer at Lohn Guest House in Bern.