Xi leads delegation to Switzerland

President Xi Jinping arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for his first state visit to the country and his first meeting of the World Economic Forum, a major annual gathering of global political and corporate leaders.

Xi will offer China’s vision on domestic economic growth and a global economy overshadowed by protectionism, according to diplomats and experts. The president leads a large delegation of senior officials and Chinese business leaders.

It is the first state visit to the Alpine country by a Chinese president in the 21st century.

Upon arrival at Zurich airport, Xi said he hoped to create a positive impetus for the recovery of the world economy.

He said he will “make joint efforts with other relevant parties to explore long-term measures for the world’s development, establish a community of common destiny for mankind and safeguard international peace and stability”.

Swiss President Doris Leuthard threw a grand welcoming ceremony at the airport for the Chinese leader.

After the ceremony, Xi and Leuthard boarded a train to Bern. The two presidents had a 40-minute talk over tea during the hour and a half journey.

The Chinese president is on a four-day trip to Switzerland that ends on Wednesday. Apart from the state visit, Xi will attend the Davos forum and call on several Geneva-based international organizations.

As part of his state visit, Xi will have a formal meeting with Leuthard and they will jointly attend a signing ceremony for cooperative agreements and meet the media, according to China’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Baodong.

Xi will become the first Chinese head of state to attend the Davos meeting.

Accompanied by Leuthard, Xi inspected the guard of honor with a military band playing the national anthems of the two nations.

In a speech delivered at the airport, the Chinese president briefly reviewed the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries since they established diplomatic ties 67 years ago.

“I hope that, through my visit, we can deepen the traditional friendship between our two peoples, expand our practical cooperation in various areas, enrich the meaning of our innovative strategic partnership, push the bilateral ties to a new high, and jointly make positive contributions to promoting world economic recovery,” he said.

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LAN HONGGUANG / XINHUA President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan are greeted by children and the media as they arrive at Zurich airport in Switzerland on Sunday at the start of a four-day visit to the Alpine country.