China, Switzerland call for joint defense of multilateral trade system

ISTANBUL

China and Switzerland called on Thursday for a joint defense of the multilateral trade system in light of the US trade war, which began with tariff hikes.

Switzerland's Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is in Beijing for a two-day state visit, where he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"China and Switzerland, as staunch supporters of multilateralism and free trade, should work together to address the challenges of anti-globalization, defend the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, and jointly safeguard the international economic and trade order and the basic norms of international relations," Wang said in a statement released by the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Wang urged both countries to strengthen cooperation and accelerate negotiations to upgrade the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Cassis, in response, expressed Bern's willingness to accelerate the negotiation on the upgrading of the bilateral FTA.

"Under the current circumstances, the international community should strengthen unity, join hands to defend multilateralism and free trade, and safeguard the international order based on the rule of law," said Cassis.

The two foreign ministers also discussed international and regional issues such as the Ukraine-Russia war and the Middle East, said the statement.