Switzerland's foreign minister played down prospects for his neutral country to embrace Western sanctions against China over its human rights record as Bern pursues a 'special path' with Beijing, a major trade partner, he told a newspaper.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis attends a news conference in Bern, Switzerland, December 18, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
ZURICH, Nov 9 - Switzerland's foreign minister played down prospects for his neutral country to embrace Western sanctions against China over its human rights record as Bern pursues a "special path" with Beijing, a major trade partner, he told a newspaper. "It is a balancing act. On the one hand, we have difficult discussions with China about human rights, but on the other hand, the country is an important partner in economic and other issues," Ignazio Cassis said in an interview with the Neue Zuercher Zeitung published on Tuesday.
"We want to take a special path that lets us hold summit meetings in Geneva like the one between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin or peace talks. We cannot play the role of bridge-builder if we always sing along in the chorus with other countries."EU imposed on China"The issue is on the table, the lead is with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
In 1950 Switzerland was one of the first western countries to recognise Communist China. Since 2010, China has been its biggest trading partner in Asia and its third-largest globally after the European Union and the United States.Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Michael PerrySubscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox.