Economics minister prepares visit to China
Economics Minister Doris Leuthard will travel to China for trade talks next month.
Officials said Leuthard would meet China's minister of commerce Chen Deming on May 12 in Beijing.
Topics to be discussed are a free trade agreement, environmental issues and protection of intellectual property rights.
Leuthard is also planning to raise the issue of human rights with her Chinese counterpart.
Switzerland and Beijing agreed last year during a meeting in China to carry out a feasibility study on a free trade accord.
Leuthard will begin her journey by flying from Zurich to Shanghai on May 9, as special guest onboard the first ever Swiss International Air Lines flight to the Chinese economic centre.
Swiss President Pascal Couchepin and Sport Minister Samuel Schmid are also due to travel to China later this year.
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