Switzerland says West will respond to China’s move away from openness
- Swiss foreign minister tells Sunday newspaper human rights have always been a part of dialogue with Beijing
- Switzerland ‘must defend its interests and values more robustly’
The West will respond more decisively to China if it continues to move away from the path of openness, according to Switzerland’s foreign minister.
“We are seeing China stray from the path of openness,” he said. “This means that Switzerland, too, must defend its interests and values more robustly, for example by strengthening international law and the multilateral system.”
In 70 years of relations with China, Switzerland had established a “constructive but critical” relationship with Beijing. “The rule of law and human rights have always been part of our dialogue,” he said.
“Now we realise that the story is more turbulent than we thought. Human rights violations are on the increase. We want to protect these rights.”
Cassis said many Swiss companies which had invested in Hong Kong would be affected if China abandoned the city’s one country, two systems arrangement.