China’s first state visit to Switzerland since 1999

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The world was still alright: Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss welcomes China's President Jiang Zemin (l) on his arrival at Geneva airport in 1999. Keystone

At Geneva airport, a girl hands over flowers to the Chinese delegation. Keystone

A worried Dreifuss waits in Bern with fellow cabinet ministers Adolf Ogi, Arnold Koller and Kaspar Villiger, l to r, with their wives. Keystone

A corporal ensures the shoes of the members of the Swiss honorary board are polished to a high gloss. Keystone

"You do not have your people under control," Jiang Zemin scolds the Swiss cabinet in the parliament building. Keystone

"You have lost a good friend," says Jiang Zemin after Tibetan sympathisers disrupted his visit. Keystone

Banners are unfurled on the square before parliament. Keystone

A thousand Tibetan sympathisers demonstrate in the Swiss capital. Keystone

Dreifuss and Foreign Minister Cotti appear worried. Keystone

Despite the tensions the two presidents exchanged official gifts. Keystone

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When Xi Jinping visits Switzerland next week, it will be the first time a Chinese president has done so since 1999. The last time a president visited, Tibet’s sympathisers unveiled “Free Tibet” banners in Bern.

The Swiss cabinet welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping “as an expression of the increasingly close political and economic relations between Switzerland and China,” the government said on Friday. Speeches, talks and a gala dinner are planned.

Relations with China have seen rockier times. The previous state visit in 1999 resulted in a diplomatic incident: During the official reception for China’s then-President Jiang Zemin, complete with military honours in the federal square before parliament, Tibetan sympathisers unrolled “Free Tibet” banners on adjacent rooftops.

The incident made the Chinese angry. The president declined to shake hands with the Swiss president, Ruth Dreifuss, and he made himself clear in a speech to parliament. “You’ve lost a good friend,” he said fiercely. Since then, the relationship has improved significantly and culminated in the signing of a free trade agreement in 2014.

(Photos: Keystone)