Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann before their talks in Beijing, China, April 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- China and Switzerland will establish an innovative strategic partnership to promote common development and prosperity, a joint statement issued on Friday said.

The statement was released after the talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann, who is paying a state visit to China from Thursday to Saturday.

During the talks, Xi said Switzerland is one of the earliest Western countries establishing diplomatic ties with New China, praising the sound development of China-Switzerland relations in recent years.

The two countries have jointly cultivated a cooperative spirit featuring equality, innovation and win-win, the Chinese president said.

He said the political foundation of the two countries' innovative strategic partnership lies in adherence to equality, mutual respect, exchanges and mutual learning.

He suggested the two sides enhance strategic consultations, increase mutual understanding and trust, and outline major cooperative areas, so as to effectively implement the new partnership.

The pioneering and innovative spirit is a distinct feature of China-Switzerland relations, said Xi, calling on the two sides to beef up innovation cooperation on the basis of expanding free trade and financial cooperation.

He said the two sides should support the establishment of innovation cooperation platforms and encourage innovative cooperation between businesses, colleges and research institutes.

The president suggested the two countries deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in renewable energy, modern eco-agriculture, energy saving and environmental protection, as well as medicine.

The Belt and Road Initiative has provided broad space for China-Switzerland cooperation, he said, noting that China is ready to work with Switzerland to enhance cooperation within the framework of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Xi also called on the two sides to create more platforms to facilitate cultural exchanges.

China is willing to enhance policy coordination with Switzerland on international affairs and hopes that the two sides will be jointly committed to the peaceful settlement of international and regional conflicts, so as to pool wisdom on global economic and financial governance, said Xi.