The meeting between Mr Parmelin and Mr Wang focused on vocational and professional education and training (VPET), student mobility and the organisation of the higher education system in Switzerland and China. The meeting followed on from Mr Parmelin's business and science mission to China in July. It provided an opportunity to take stock of existing collaboration and partnerships and to outline ways to expand on these in the future.

A joint working group on higher education and vocational and professional education and training (VPET) was set up under the 2012 Sino-Swiss agreement on strengthening cooperation in these areas. Bringing together the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the Chinese Ministry of Education on a regular basis since 2014, this working group facilitates the sharing of information and experience, and is part of Switzerland's International Strategy on Education, Research and Innovation.

Scientific cooperation between Switzerland and China is based on a bilateral agreement that the two countries concluded in 1989. Contacts between the two countries are also supported by Swissnex, which has had a presence in Shanghai since 2008. Swissnex is an intergral part of Switzerland's global network for education, research and innovation, and helps to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Switzerland and China enjoy close ties in business and science, and will celebrate 75 years of bilateral relations in 2025.

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin welcomes Vice Minister of Education Wang Guangyan of China