The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is to provide an opportunity to increase connectivity among participating countries, Swiss Ambassador to China Jean-Jacques de Dardel said during a recent interview with Xinhuanet. [Special coverage]
"The forum will provide an opportunity for various countries to meet in a whole new setting," he said.
"We hope that this bears the chance to create a new and positive dynamic, where a community of countries can work together on a common aim: increasing connectivity," the ambassador said.
Swiss President Doris Leuthard's attendance at the forum shows Switzerland's readiness to contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative, he added.
The Initiative was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.
Ambassador Jean-Jacques de Dardel affirmed in the interview that the increasing connectivity will entail more than mere infrastructure cooperation.
In addition to the cooperation in infrastructure construction, he listed another four pillars the Initiative has set up, including investment and trade cooperation, financial cooperation, policy coordination, promotion of people-to-people exchange.
He also expressed the willingness of Switzerland to further enhance collaboration with China in these fields.
In recent years, the Sino-Swiss relations have been greatly promoted, with deepened cooperation in areas such as trade, finance, innovation industries and climate changes, he said.
And China has become the third-largest market for Swiss exports worldwide after the EU and the US, he said.
Against this backdrop, the Belt and Road forum will serve as an important platform that provides the two countries with opportunities for more exchanges and deeper collaboration, he said.
