This Tuesday in the first China International Import Expo (CIIE), Switzerland unveiled its national pavilion at the host venue of the exposition in Shanghai.

The opening ceremony of the pavilion was attended by Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the Swiss Ambassador to China, Dr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel, who are leading a high-level Swiss delegation to the trade fair.

(Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Swiss National Pavilion.)

“Ranking No. 1 in innovation for eight years in a row, Switzerland is driven by innovation. As a global leader in this area and taking advantage of our excellent and longstanding relationship with China, Switzerland and Swiss companies look forward to promoting and cooperating on cutting edge technologies, services and products in cleantech, the mechanical and electrical industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, watches, information and communication technologies, finance/fintech, and logistics,” said Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, noting Switzerland’s strong presence at the expo.

The Swiss National Pavilion features the unique concept of a "LiveMap", especially designed for the CIIE, which offers visitors an opportunity to visit Switzerland in both virtual reality and physical space. Through a mobile app, visitors can see basic geographic icons, tourist destinations, cultural and traditional symbols and commercial innovation features. If you are lucky, you can claim a gift on the second floor of the pavilion. Swiss culinary specialties, like cheese, ham and milk, are also available. Among them, Swiss milk is attracting the interest of many visitors.

（A bird’s eye view of the "LiveMap" at the national pavilion）

(AR effect of the "LiveMap")

At the back of the Swiss-style wooden pavilion is a recreational area, where people can experience the Swiss nature in a highly sensory way by immersing themselves in virtual mountains and grassland. About 11 companies and partners are also displaying their latest products and services at the pavilion through interactive activities and designs.

In addition to the national pavilion, almost 50 individual Swiss companies are showcasing their products, services and innovation prowess at their own booths within the commercial area of the CIIE.

China and Switzerland have been growing increasingly close to each other since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1950. In 1954, Zhou Enlai, the then Chinese premier, attended the Geneva Conference, marking the debut of the New China on the international stage. In 1979, Schindler came to China as China’s first industrial Sino-foreign joint venture and the first joint venture in Shanghai. Starting 2010, China has been Switzerland's most important trading partner in Asia.　　

(Swiss Ambassador to China, Dr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony.)

“As an open economy and innovative country, Switzerland has been working intensely with China on various fronts, the economy in particular, that is why such a big number of Swiss companies are present at the expo. Our presence here also shows our common commitment to free and rule-based international trade," said Dr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel.

“In addition to the well-known products from Switzerland, we have more to offer. Our machine tools, equipment and services enable the Chinese economy to perform and get better. In a globalized world, Switzerland leads lots of industries especially those with niche markets with our innovative capacities and craftsmanship. CIIE could be the platform to further connect Switzerland and China. We hope to establish links among industries and businesses from both countries, to engage with more stakeholders, thus further elevating our bilateral ties." The ambassador hopes that through the expo, Chinese visitors and companies could get to know Switzerland better and go beyond the stereotypical images of Switzerland.