BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay an official visit to Switzerland from December 10 to 12 at the invitation of his Swiss counterpart Didier Burkhalter.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the announcement at a routine news briefing Friday.

During his visit, Wang will meet with Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann and Burkhalter in Berne, and discuss bilateral relations and issues of common concern, Lu said.

Wang will also visit Geneva and have meetings with leaders of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International Olympic Committee.

Calling Switzerland an important cooperation partner of China in Europe, Lu said that the China-Switzerland relations played a leading role for the development of China-Europe relations. Cooperation between China and Switzerland boasted solid foundation and big potentials, Lu added.

During the state visit of Schneider-Ammann to China in April, the two countries established an innovative strategic partnership.

"This maps out the new direction for bilateral pragmatic cooperation. China is willing to make joint efforts with Switzerland to boost bilateral ties and cooperations," Lu said.