Xi expecting 'heated discussion' on economy in Switzerland

China will continue to be a huge market supporting world economic growth and a hot destination for foreign investment, President Xi Jinping told a Swiss newspaper on Friday ahead of his state visit to the country.

"We meet at a time of angst about the prospects of the world economy, growing backlash against economic globalization, and rising populism and trade protectionism," Xi wrote in an article for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, a leading Swiss daily newspaper.

Xi will visit Switzerland from Jan 15-18 to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum at Davos on Jan 17.

He will also visit the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee on Jan 18.

"There is a stronger call for revisiting and changing the current paths of development, systems of wealth distribution and models of governance," Xi wrote. "The direction of the world economy is a subject of heated discussion."

In the article, Xi spoke highly of Switzerland's support for the internationalization of the RMB, its participation in the founding of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and mutual visa exemption for diplomatic passport-holders.

"We may actively explore the possibility of upgrading the Free Trade Agreement, and set a good example of promoting the free and open international trade and investment system," Xi said in the article.

The two countries may also step up China-Europe cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative through the AIIB and the cooperation mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European countries, Xi wrote.

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives, put forward by Xi in 2013, aim to revive ancient trade routes, with an emphasis on infrastructure.

Switzerland was among the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and was among the first group of European countries to recognize China's market economy status. The first industrial joint venture China entered into was with Switzerland.

China and Switzerland established an innovative strategic partnership in April during a state visit to China by Johann Schneider-Ammann, the country's president at the time. It was the first such partnership China had developed with another country.

Switzerland is also an observer country in the partnership between China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries.