China's top political advisor, Jia Qinglin, pledged to strengthen ties with Switzerland on Thursday.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with the president of the Swiss National Council, Andre Bugnon, in Diaoyutai Guesthouse in downtown Beijing.

"China would like to work with Switzerland for new and significant growth in bilateral all-round cooperative ties," Jia said.

The two countries forged a diplomatic relationship in 1950.

In recent years, China and Switzerland expanded economic and trade cooperation, consulted each other on major international issues and worked on cultural exchanges, Jia said.

Bugnon said his visit enabled him to see a prosperous and stable China. He also noted significant progress in the country's rural areas.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2008)