SUMMARY SINO-SWISS ECONOMIC FORUM 1 JULY 2014
The Sino-Swiss Free Trade Agreement
A comprehensive bilateral FTA between the Swiss Confederation and the People’s Republic of China was signed by Federal Councillor Mr. Johann N. Schneider-Ammann and the Chinese Minister of Commerce Mr. Gao Hucheng on 6 July 2013. The comprehensive FTA will establish preferential relations for trade in goods and services between China and Switzerland, facilitating two-way trade and enhancing competitiveness of both economies. The agreement will also strengthen legal certainty for economic exchange, promote bilateral cooperation between Switzerland and China and contribute to sustainable development.
More than that, it is also a symbol of the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Sino-Swiss Economic Forum
TOPICS
The overall topic – FTA: A New Chapter in Sino-Swiss Relations – explored why Switzerland and China have chosen to sign the FTA. In focusing on the “Why”, the Forum underlined the key strengths complementing both the Swiss and Chinese economic systems such as Quality, Innovation, Competitiveness and Sustainability. Each of those four overarching themes covered two panels, ranging from Intellectual Property, Investments in Switzerland and China, Food Safety, R&D, Urbanization to Innovation. The panels demonstrated how the FTA will enhance future cooperation between Switzerland and China in order to foster sustainable growth. The panels were composed of Swiss and Chinese eminent figures from business, academia and government.
FORMAT
8 panels, 4 themes: | Quality, Innovation, Competitiveness, Sustainability |
Duration: | 60 minutes incl. 15 minutes Q&A |
Speakers: | 4 panelists, 1 moderator |
Audience: | Approximately 300 people for the Opening Plenary, 60-70 people per panel, mainly business leaders from China and Switzerland |
Location: | Grand Hyatt Beijing |
Date: | 1 July 2014, 14:00-18:30 |
Gala Dinner: | 19:30-21:00 |
PROGRAMME