Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on Monday, calling for enhanced exchanges and contacts between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hands with Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, on June 28, 2010. [Rao Aimin/Xinhua]

This year marks the 60th anniversary of China-Switzerland diplomatic ties. Li said the two countries had witnessed smooth progress of bilateral ties over the past 60 years and carried out substantial cooperation in the areas including economy, trade and technology.

He suggested to further develop bilateral friendly cooperative ties on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and seeking common ground while putting aside difference.

Because the world is undergoing profound and complex changes with global challenges on the rise, the two countries share the responsibility and aspiration to maintain world peace and development, said the vice premier.

"China appreciates Switzerland's positive role at the global stage, and hopes to enhance contacts with the country to jointly contribute to world peace, development and cooperation," Li said.

Calmy-Rey said her country highly valued its relations with China and hoped to further strengthen bilateral exchanges in various areas and at all levels.

Calmy-Rey is on a three-day working visit to China with a focus on the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties with China and the official political dialogue that Switzerland and China have agreed as a means to deepen their bilateral relations.