Interview: Liechtenstein would like to further strengthen bilateral relations with China – a visit to Crown Prince Regent Alois of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Vaduz, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Exclusive interview: Liechtenstein is willing to further strengthen bilateral relations with China - visiting Prince Regent Alois of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Junxia Martina Fox

In an exclusive interview with a Xinhua reporter in Vaduz, Prince Regent of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Alois, said a few days ago that Liechtenstein has always attached great importance to its relations with China and is willing to "further strengthen bilateral relations with the world's second-largest economy."

He said that in the past 10 to 15 years, especially after Liechtenstein participated in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the relations between the two countries have developed greatly.

Alois said Liechtenstein's economy is very diversified, export-oriented, and large companies engaged in manufacturing and services, especially financial services, are the main drivers of the country's economy. For these companies, China is undoubtedly an important market. In the future, "we will try to make further improvements in the service sector and the avoidance of double taxation in order to further promote trade between our two countries at the bilateral level."

He also expressed the hope that more cooperation with China in the field of climate change is dealt with. "We have companies in China and Liechtenstein that offer products that help combat climate change. We can cooperate in this regard and offer each other these products. "In addition, the two countries can strengthen cooperation at the international level, especially within the framework of the United Nations to promote positive initiatives by the international community in addressing climate change."

Commenting on China's call for multilateralism to combat covid-19, Alois said that we must jointly deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change at the international level, and Liechtenstein is willing to make efforts to this end.

Regarding the prospects of Liechtenstein's tourism industry, Alois stressed that he is optimistic about the future visits of Chinese tourists. "The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to keep the tourism industry difficult in the next two or three years, but in the long run, I believe we will see a good pick-up in [the number of Chinese tourists]."