Mr. Samuel Schmid, Head of the Federal Department of Defence,
Civil Protection and Sports of Switzerland, emphasized on the
importance of maintaining intensified and institutionalized
"strategic dialogue or discussion" between Switzerland and China in
reply to an interview with People's Daily Online in the Swiss
Embassy in Beijing.
Replying to the question of "How do you assess the exchanges and
cooperation with China with regard to defense affairs in the
future?" Mr. Samuel Schmid stressed that
Switzerland and China have already conducted frequent and
well-coordinated cooperation in such fields as national defense,
security policies, economic development and military officer
training. The two countries have also conducted exchanges and
dialogue on the human rights issue. Switzerland is willing to
intensify and broaden such cooperation with China in every field,
and would like to institutionalize such strategic discussions on a
regular basis, presumably once in every one or two years.
When asked on the role played by China in the six-party talks on
the Korean Nuclear Issue, Mr. Samuel Schmid commented favorably on
China's huge efforts to keep the six-party talks moving forward,
which were at times full of difficulties. He expressed his hope
that the six-party talks can be resumed through the efforts by such
countries as China.
When asked for an assessment of China's preparatory efforts for
the 2008
Olympics and his expectations for this major event in Beijing,
Mr. Samuel Schmid said that he "firmly believes China will be a
very nice host of the 2008 Olympics" and that China will make the
Games a wonderful event through elaborate preparations. He also
says Switzerland feels honored to have won a bidding effort for a
major Olympics project in Beijing. The Federal Councilor also
exhibited a typical Swiss sense of humor by predicting that
"although Switzerland runs ahead of China in Turin Winter Olympics,
China will surely rank before us during the next Olympics".
Having paid two visits to China up to now --- with the first
visit coinciding with the 2003 SARS outbreak --- Mr. Samuel Schmid
was "deeply impressed" to witness the tremendous changes that have
taken place in China during the interval. The overall living
standards of the Chinese people have been greatly enhanced, and
China's progress is evident in almost every aspect. During his
visit to Shanghai, Mr. Samuel Schmid has seen a large number of
investments and signs of innovation. This prosperous metropolis has
also left him with a deep impression. What is more noteworthy is
that he feels the Chinese leaders are fully aware of the
concomitant problems that have arisen together with the swift
social and economic development of the country. He can feel the
determination and awareness of the Chinese leadership to lead the
whole nation to fulfill the goal of all-round well-off society. The
prospects for China's development, he believes, are very nice.
Mr. Samuel Schmid reiterated the official stance that
Switzerland will stick to the "one-China policy". He also expressed
his regret over recent signs of escalating tension across the
Taiwan Straits, owing to Taiwan authorities' abrupt abolition of
the National Unification Council.
Mr. Samuel Schmid also mentioned that, in a conference held last
year, it was stated that China should become one of the focal
points for strategic cooperation for Switzerland. To him, such a
prospect is already unfolding.
(People's Daily March 2, 2006)
