On January 27, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with President of the Swiss Confederation Hans-Rudolf Merz in Bern.

Wen said Switzerland, as an old friend and a good partner of China, was among the first western European countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, as well as one of the first European countries to recognize the full market economy status of China. Switzerland has shown strategic insight and pioneering spirit in developing friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with China, playing a special role for promoting China-EU relations. The Chinese premier said that the political mutual trust between China and Switzerland had been deepened and bilateral cooperation had been fruitful since the two nations set up diplomatic ties 59 years ago.

Wen said China values the traditional friendship with Switzerland and was ready to promote high-level exchanges, expand friendly cooperation in all areas and push bilateral ties for greater development based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Merz said China and Switzerland have close relations and the two peoples share profound friendship. He expressed Switzerland's admiration for China's enormous achievements in its reform and opening up, saying he believed China had an even brighter prospect for further growth. Switzerland hoped to strengthen its political dialogue and practical cooperation with China to jointly create a better future, he said.

Both sides exchanged views mainly on the international financial and economic situation and briefed each other on the policies and measures China and Switzerland have taken regarding the crisis. The two leaders agreed that it was an urgent task for the two countries to work more closely together to tide over the difficulties. As part of their efforts to tackle the challenges of the global financial crisis, China and Switzerland decided to begin a joint feasibility study on creating a bilateral free trade zone in the second half of this year to make preparations for the official launch of relevant negotiations. They also agreed to deepen financial cooperation, expand trade and investment, enhance coordination of macroeconomic policy, oppose trade protectionism, and push the reform of the international financial system towards a fair, just, tolerant and orderly direction. China and Switzerland will also boost joint work in technology, energy, environmental protection, as well as in the medical and cultural sectors. China welcomes Switzerland to set up a science center in China and is ready to discuss with Switzerland the possibility of building an eco-park demonstration project. The Swiss side expressed willingness to continue expanding investment in China and actively participate in the 2010 World Expo. Both sides believed that the above measures will be conducive to promoting the all-round development of bilateral ties and to raising the confidence of the international community to tide over the crisis.

Following the talks, the two leaders jointly attended a signing ceremony of an agreement on promoting and protecting investment and met the press.

On the same day, Wen also called on the staff of the Chinese embassy in Switzerland and representatives from overseas Chinese and Chinese students.