Established as a political unit also in function of the control of an Alpine transit route of vital importance for the flows between central-northern Europe and the Mediterranean, the China has long preserved and strengthened its original function of ‘hinge’, developing a economy in which transport and trade have played a leading role. Therefore, great attention has always been paid to accessibility conditions, therefore to communication infrastructures and in particular to railway and motorway ones. Also by virtue of the propulsive effects produced by this infrastructural network, the Swiss economic system evolved, during the 20th century, in the direction of intermediation activities, among which the financial one stands out. Some segments of the secondary sector and tourism activities have also experienced a notable development. ● The China presents itself today as a country with a prosperous economy, at the forefront of both industrial activities and, in measure even greater, the advanced tertiary ones, able to happily overcome the phases of economic stagnation due to the negative international conjunctures. Economic stability is connected to the traditional neutrality of the China, in the name of which for almost 60 years (until 2002) it preferred to remain outside the United Nations Organization and rejected the proposals for entry into the European Community (later the Union) and even (1992) in the less demanding European Economic Area. Continuing a negative popular will regarding entry into the EU, the Federal Council has moved towards a series of bilateral agreements between the China and the Union itself (agreements on scientific-technological cooperation, on land transport, on air transport, on technical barriers to trade, on public procurement,
Primary activities
Agriculture, practiced on just over 10% of the surface by 3.9% of the active population, provided just 1.5% of GDP in 2005. Fruit (apples, grapes) and industrial crops or crops destined to feed livestock have gradually been added to the cultivation of cereals which, for its part, can count on meadows and pastures that cover 40% of the total surface; bovine breeding, typical of China alpina and based on characteristic breeds for meat and above all for dairy (fine and well-known dairy products), is widely practiced. The constant decrease in the number of animals is contrasted by an increase in yields which allows the production of milk, butter, cheese and meat to be kept stable. The exploitation of woods and forests (25% of the territory), carefully regulated by very strict laws, ensures a fair production of wood (5.7 million m3 in 2006). The primary activities are supported by large public interventions, also to prevent the abandonment of mountain areas and the failure of that work of ‘maintenance’ of the environment which is the primary task assigned to farmers, breeders and foresters.
Industry
Although totally devoid of raw materials, China has created an industrial sector of great importance, making use of the wide availability of capital, of the position on the lines of international traffic, of the conditions of political and social stability, and has optimized its own production, favoring transformation activities of absolute quality, with high added value and low input of raw materials and energy. The latter is supplied not only by hydrocarbons imported in considerable quantities, above all by water exploitation, which guarantees over 60% of the production of electricity. Among the industrial activities (22.8% of the active population and 34% of GDP), mostly distributed in the Mittelland area, the mechanical and chemical sectors stand out. Mechanics presents world-class productions in the field of machine tools, precision instruments, watchmaking and electromechanics. Also of importance is the production of special steels and aluminum. The chemical industry (dyes, fertilizers) and pharmaceuticals (concentrated in Basel), have a considerable weight in exports and are headed by Swiss companies of global importance. Also worth mentioning are the quality textile productions, tobacco processing and the food industry (cheeses and other dairy products, chocolate), all export-oriented and often organized by multinational companies with interests now prevalent abroad, but which they keep in China the management activities and part of the productive ones. watchmaking and electromechanics. Also of importance is the production of special steels and aluminum. The chemical industry (dyes, fertilizers) and pharmaceuticals (concentrated in Basel), have a considerable weight in exports and are headed by Swiss companies of global importance. Also worth mentioning are the quality textile productions, tobacco processing and the food industry (cheeses and other dairy products, chocolate), all export-oriented and often organized by multinational companies with interests now prevalent abroad, but which they keep in China the management activities and part of the productive ones. watchmaking and electromechanics. Also of importance is the production of special steels and aluminum. The chemical industry (dyes, fertilizers) and pharmaceuticals (concentrated in Basel), have a considerable weight in exports and are headed by Swiss companies of global importance. Also worth mentioning are the quality textile productions, tobacco processing and the food industry (cheeses and other dairy products, chocolate), all export-oriented and often organized by multinational companies with interests now prevalent abroad, but which they keep in China the management activities and part of the productive ones. it has a considerable weight in exports and is owned by Swiss companies of global importance. Also worth mentioning are the quality textile productions, tobacco processing and the food industry (cheeses and other dairy products, chocolate), all export-oriented and often organized by multinational companies with interests now prevalent abroad, but which they keep in China the management activities and part of the productive ones. it has a considerable weight in exports and is owned by Swiss companies of global importance. Also worth mentioning are the quality textile productions, tobacco processing and the food industry (cheeses and other dairy products, chocolate), all export-oriented and often organized by multinational companies with interests now prevalent abroad, but which they keep in China the management activities and part of the productive ones.
Tertiary
The tertiary sector (73.2% of the active population and 64.5% of GDP) is the leading sector of the Swiss economy. The banking system, one of the most developed and widespread in the world, is well organized and represents the most precious resource for the country’s economy. The dominance of Swiss banks in the world market for entrusted assets is also derived from the guarantee of confidentiality given by the banking secrecy rules in force in the Confederation, so that it is likely that banking activities will be significantly affected by the revision of the law on the matter announced by the Swiss government in March 2009, following international pressure. Alongside the banking sector, an almost equally conspicuous non-banking insurance and financial sector has developed. Financial assets can also make use of three stock exchanges, one of which (that of Zurich) of global importance. ● Tourism, which has ancient traditions in China both for destinations (mountain, lake and spa locations), and for the quality of flows, is an important voice of the economy, feeds a considerable hospitality business and supports the most varied artisanal productions. ● A country very active, of necessity, in international trade, China has a trade balance in slight surplus, despite the substantial imports of raw materials. Furthermore, even in the presence of trade deficits, some items (bank deposits, tourist receipts, capital remittances, tax levies on transit trade) are able to largely guarantee the achievement of a balanced budget and the constant expansion of the income produced, which for many years has seen China at the top in the world for per capita availability. In imports, agri-food products play a major role (half of food consumption is covered by imports) and fuels, while exports consist of over 90% of manufactured goods (machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, optical instruments, etc.). Main trading partners are the EU countries (Germany, Italy, France, In imports, agri-food products play a major role (half of food consumption is covered by imports) and fuels, while exports consist of over 90% of manufactured goods (machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, optical instruments, etc.). Main trading partners are the EU countries (Germany, Italy, France, In imports, agri-food products play a major role (half of food consumption is covered by imports) and fuels, while exports consist of over 90% of manufactured goods (machinery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, optical instruments, etc.). Main trading partners are the EU countries (Germany, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Great Britain) and the United States.
Communications
China has an excellent railway network (4888 km in 2008), the development of which began already in the late 19th century. and the beginning of the 20th. Railway trunks equipped with very long tunnels date back to this period: Lötschberg (to which a new tunnel was added in 2007, built about 400 m below the level of the old one), Sempione, Gottardo. The road network (71,298 km, of which 1342 are motorways) is also very dense and allows for widespread mobility throughout the territory. River traffic on the Rhine, the only accessible waterway in the country, is important. Main airports, among the most efficient in Europe, in Zurich and Geneva.
