On the morning of June 1, President Hu Jintao met with Pascal Couchepin, President of the Swiss Confederation, at the hotel he stayed.  

Hu Jintao noted that both countries had enjoyed a good relationship of cooperation and the bilateral cooperation had produced positive results in the fields of trade, economy, science, education, culture and training of civil servants. He said that both sides shared the same or similar stands on many major international issues, hoped to promote the establishment of a multi-polar world, favored a peaceful settlement of international disputes and maintain the world's diversity. Hu said that China attached great importance to the development of the friendly relationship with Switzerland and the Chinese side was ready to further strengthen cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit, in the strive for an elevation of bilateral relations.

On his part, Couchepin said Switzerland valued the friendly and cooperative relations with China and appreciated the positive and constructive role China played as a member of the World Trade Organization(WTO). He expressed his hope to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation and coordination in various fields. Couchepin also congratulated China and the Chinese people for successfully bringing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) under control, adding that he was confident the mankind would fight down the epidemic.