《為什么選擇瑞士》

瑞士是我就任中國國務院總理后出訪的第一個歐洲國家。在中國文化中，“第一次”總是具有象征意義。我選擇瑞士并非偶然，因為有幾件重要的事情要做。這幾件都是中國對外開放具有標志性的大事，也都與瑞士有關。

其一是推動中瑞自貿區(qū)進程。2010年我訪問瑞士時，雙方一致同意加快建立自貿區(qū)的準備工作。三年多來，兩國的相關部門一直緊鑼密鼓地推進談判，進行了九輪并最終結束了談判。邁出這一步，瑞士將成為歐洲大陸和世界經濟20強中首個與中國達成自貿協(xié)定的國家，其意義非同一般。

去年，中瑞貿易達到263億美元，其中瑞士對華出口228億美元，如果平均到每個瑞士人就是2800美元。達成一個高水平的中瑞自貿協(xié)定，中國付出了很多努力。這充分說明，中國對外開放的步伐不會停頓，中國堅持維護多邊貿易體制、積極推動區(qū)域貿易自由化、加快實施自由貿易區(qū)戰(zhàn)略的決心堅定不移。達成一個高水平的中瑞自貿協(xié)定，也等于是樹立一個好的標桿，不僅會促進兩國經貿合作全面升級，而且會向世界發(fā)出反對貿易和投資保護主義、倡導貿易自由化便利化的強有力信號，給中歐經貿關系深化帶來新的動力，給兩國消費者和企業(yè)帶來實實在在的好處，也有利于世界貿易振興和經濟復蘇。

其二是加強雙方金融領域交流與合作。瑞士長于金融，管理經驗豐富，被稱為銀行密度最高的國家。與瑞方加強金融監(jiān)管、宏觀政策和完善資本市場體系等方面的合作，是中國開放型經濟發(fā)展的客觀需要。中國正在深化金融業(yè)改革開放，包括穩(wěn)步推進利率市場化改革以及人民幣資本項目可兌換、建立個人投資者境外投資制度、完善金融監(jiān)管機制等，這將為兩國金融企業(yè)互動發(fā)展提供新的機遇。同時，中瑞可以在國際貨幣基金組織、世界銀行等國際金融機構中攜手合作，為維護國際金融穩(wěn)定和促進世界經濟增長發(fā)揮“1＋1大于2”的作用。

其三是進一步增進兩國互信與理解。中瑞關系和務實合作能夠達到什么高度，既取決于能否抓住新的機遇，更取決于能否提高雙方互信和理解的層次。瑞士是首批與新中國建交的西方國家之一，中國改革開放后第一家工業(yè)性合資企業(yè)就是與瑞士合作成立的，瑞士又在歐洲國家中較早承認了中國市場經濟地位。這些都構成了彼此信任的基礎。中瑞合作要走得更好更遠，需要我們做的事情還有很多。希望這次訪問不僅能深化領導人之間的了解和互信，而且能提高彼此國家在對方民眾中的認知度，在民間交往的廣闊天地播下更多友好的種子。

Why Switzerland?

Switzerland is the first European destination on the list of countries I will visit after becoming China's premier. In Chinese culture, being "first" always carries symbolic meaning. My choice of Switzerland is in no way haphazard: we have got a few important things to do here. They are all landmark events in China's opening-up, and they all have something to do with Switzerland.

The first job is to secure progress in the building of China-Switzerland FTA. It was during my last visit in 2010 that the two countries agreed to speed up preparations for an FTA. Over the past three years and more, the relevant departments and agencies of the two countries have worked energetically in the negotiations, and reached the final conclusion after nine rounds of talks. With the advent of FTA, Switzerland will become the first country in continental Europe and the first of the world's top 20 economies to reach an FTA with China, the implications of which will be significant.

Last year, two-way trade reached 26.3 billion U.S. dollars, including 22.8 billion dollars of Swiss exports to China. That is to say, every Swiss man, woman and child exported 2,800 dollars to China. To conclude this high-quality FTA agreement with Switzerland, China has made tremendous effort. It fully demonstrates that China will not stall in its opening-up and that it is firmly committed to upholding the multilateral trading regime, vigorously promoting regional trade liberalization, and accelerating the implementation of the FTA strategy. Moreover, a high-quality FTA agreement between China and Switzerland will also set a good example. It will not only upgrade our business and investment cooperation but also send a powerful message to the rest of the world that we reject trade and investment protectionism and instead embrace trade liberalization and facilitation. It will inject fresh impetus into China-EU business ties, bring tangible benefits to consumers and businesses in both our countries, and contribute to world trade and economic recovery.

The second job is to step up financial exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. Switzerland boasts the highest density of banks. It has a strong financial industry and rich regulatory experience. Enhancing cooperation with Switzerland in financial regulation, macroeconomic policy making, capital market development and other areas is consistent with China's need for further development of its open economy. China is introducing more reform and opening-up to its financial sector, including steadily advancing market-oriented reform of the interest rate, making RMB convertible under the capital account, putting in place a system of overseas investment by individual investors, and improving financial regulatory regime. All this will provide new opportunities for interactions and growth of our financial firms. At the same time, China and Switzerland can work together at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international financial institutions, so as to make greater contribution to maintaining international financial stability and promoting world economic growth.

The third job is to enhance mutual trust and understanding. How high we can go in developing our relations and our practical cooperation hinges on our ability to seize new opportunities, and more importantly, on whether or not we can reach a higher level of mutual trust and understanding. Switzerland is among the first Western countries to have established diplomatic relations with New China. The very first industrial joint venture China entered into after the beginning of reform and opening up was one with Switzerland. Switzerland is also one of the first group of European countries that recognize China's market economy status. All these constitute the basis of our mutual trust. But to go still higher, we need to do a lot more. I hope my visit here will not only deepen the understanding and trust at the leadership level, but also increase the awareness and recognition at the public level of our respective countries, thus planting more seeds of friendship for exchanges between the two peoples.