GENEVA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss government has decided to take part in the first China International Import Exposition (CIIE) later this year, as a move to further enrich and strengthen Sino-Swiss economic and trade relations.

The first CIIE will be held in Shanghai in November, which is expected to bring together thousands of enterprises from more than 120 countries and regions. More than 150,000 buyers from home and abroad are expected at the event, Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan said on March 11.

At a CIIE promotion event in Zurich on Monday, Christine Busser, head of Bilateral Economic Relations Asia/Oceania under Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, said the Swiss government is honored and delighted to be present at the CIIE, and is planning to send a high-ranking official delegation to the event.

Busser also said the Swiss government has been encouraging companies to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and is expecting a strong participation of the Swiss economy at the CIIE that will further enrich and strengthen Sino-Swiss economic and trade relations.

At Monday's promotion, Gao Yanping, Chinese consul general in Zurich and for the Principality of Liechtenstein, said that the CIIE is a "China Solution" against the trends of anti-globalization and trade protectionism in recent years following a weak global economic growth.

The CIIE will "send a positive signal of China to oppose trade protectionism and to maintain an open world economy", he said, adding that the event also marks a "new round of China's opening-up policy" to further promotes the Belt and Road Initiative.

According to Gao, Swiss enterprises are not only among the first foreign contributors to China's reform and opening up, but also great beneficiaries from China's development.

Gao hoped that that entrepreneurs and exporters from Switzerland and Liechtenstein will look far beyond, take the opportunities of China's development and make full use of the CIIE platform, for mutual benefits and win-win results.

So far, a number of renowned Swiss brands have confirmed their participation in the CIIE, including Nestle, Migros, ABB and Victorinox.