China and Switzerland on Monday launched a joint study to examine the feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

The joint study will examine the topics covered by free trade agreements, such as trade in goods and services, investment and other possible areas of cooperation, said a joint statement issued by visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and Swiss Economics Minister Doris Leuthard.

The results of the study will serve as a basis for the two governments to take a decision on opening negotiations on such a free trade agreement, Leuthard said at a launching ceremony in Geneva.

She expressed hope that the two countries would be able to take such a decision in 2010, the year of the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"It is our common understanding that a comprehensive Switzerland-China Free Trade Agreement will open new business opportunities," she said.

She added that a FTA would be an important step for the two countries and strengthen the bonds of long standing friendship between both nations.

Addressing the ceremony, Chen said the bilateral trade between the two countries reached $11.3 billion  in 2008.

He expressed hope that the FTA study would be conducted in an active, objective and practical way so that both governments would have a good basis for taking a decision on future negotiations.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2009)