Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for his first four-day official state visit to the Alpine country, vowing to nurture close friendship and boost cooperation between the two nations.

The president and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were welcomed by Swiss president Doris Leuthard and her husband, Roland Hausin, at the Zurich airport before proceeding to the capital city of Bern by train.

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According to the China state-run news agency, Xinhua, the welcome ceremony was hosted by the seven members of  the Swiss Federal Council held at the Federal Palace in Bern.

Friendship and Cooperation

In a short speech during the ceremony, Xi said that he was looking forward to forging close friendship as well as enhancing cooperation with Switzerland.

"My visit is aimed at consolidating our friendship, boosting our cooperation and promoting peace and development together with the Swiss side," the Chinese president said during the welcome ceremony.

"I am looking forward to having talks with the Swiss side on deepening our practical cooperation in various areas and enriching the meaning of our innovative strategic partnership," he added.

Open Arms

Xinhua said that Xi's visit was the first by a Chinese president in this century and Switzerland welcomed it "with open arms."

During his four-day visit, Xi is expected to attend the 2017 annual World Economic Forum meeting, a gathering of global leaders and the business elite, at the ski resorts of Davos. This will also be the first time a Chinese president will grace the affair.

Xi is also scheduled to visit the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva as well as the World Health Organization offices.

Xi will be addressing the Davos World Economic Forum meeting on Jan. 17. He is also expected to grace an affair at the UN offices in Geneva.

"I hope to, through attending the WEF annual meeting and visiting the international organizations, gather consensus with all sides on maintaining world peace, promoting common development and settling major global issues under the current situation, thus delivering positive energies to the international community," the president said.  

TagsDavos World Economic Forum, Switzerland, President Xi Jinping, First Lady Peng Liyuan, Swiss President Doris Leuthard, Swiss Federal Council, United Nations headquarters, World Health Organization, Xi's four-day state visit, china