Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arriving in Switzerland, to discuss the possibilities of a Free Trade Agreement between the two nations.

The agreement, once signed, will be the first between China and a continental European country.

Trade relations with Switzerland wasn't the only issue on Premier Li's mind, however.

He also took the opportunity to criticise European Union plans to investigate alleged anti-competitive behaviour by Chinese mobile telecom equipment makers and to impose punitive import duties on solar panels from China.

Li stated he hoped the EU would uphold the principles of free trade and consider the implications for trade between China and the EU.

Li is the most senior Chinese official to comment on the issue so far.

The EU is China's most important trading partner, while for the EU China is second only to the United States.