Deiss mentioned the good political relationship and closer economic and trade ties between the two countries, and said Switzerland attaches great importance to developing cooperation in various areas with China.

Switzerland is willing to provide China with experiences in finance, environment and agriculture, to support Swiss enterprises' investment in China and welcomes Chinese firms to invest here, he said.

Zeng Peiyan, who is on a four-day visit to Switzerland, said the two sides have great potential for cooperation, and China would like to see further development in Sino-Swiss economic and trade ties.

Zeng invited Swiss enterprises to take an active part in development of western China and in reconstruction projects of the old industrial base in northeastern China.

Following talks, the two senior officials attended a signature ceremony of a memo on tourism. Deiss said the memo, along with other economic and trade cooperation agreements, has led bilateral ties to a new phase.

Zeng arrived in Switzerland last Saturday after finishing an official visit to France, and on Wednesday he will leave for Croatia, the last leg of his tour.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2004)