China's New Era reinforces Zhuhai-Swiss rapport

Zhuhai's development and cooperation with Switzerland and other European and American countries will be guided by the 19th National Congress of the CPC, Vice Mayor Zhu Qingqiao said on Oct 25.

Calling it of historical significance to both the nation's and city's future, Zhu told a visiting delegation headed by Didier Boschung, Swiss consul-general in Guangzhou, that Zhuhai will respond to the Congress of the Communist Party of China with greater openness. He added that the spirit of the congress and major ideas it approved will be carried out in the city across all aspects of economic and social construction.

Guided by the central government into a New Era to benefit all, the CPC adopted "a new option for other countries and nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence."

The vice mayor told the Swiss in a speech that behind Zhuhai's prosperity are unremitting efforts to make the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area an innovation base and strengthen its pivotal role in the Belt & Road Initiative. Zhuhai also is becoming a hub city on the west bank of the Pearl River, he added, and urban and rural areas are being developed in tandem with focus on the well-being of residents.

Boschung said it was the first time for him to visit Zhuhai and he was amazed at what the city has achieved. He made special mention of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), noting he had learned of the legendary sea crossing project as soon as he took office in 2014. Moreover, he added, he will be pleased to see it completed within his term. 

Didier Boschung [Photo courtesy xqb.com.cn]

China and Switzerland signed a free trade agreement in Beijing in 2013, which brought about deeper economic and trade cooperation. Boschung expects more economic exchanges to take place in future. He promised to help establish commercial ties between Zhuhai and Swiss firms with the former presenting unique advantages as a special economic zone.