ZURICH, (Reuters) – Switzerland’s foreign minister dismissed any possibility for China to accept Western sanctions on its neutral country over China’s human rights record. Bern, a key trade partner, said that a special path was being pursued with Beijing.

It is difficult to balance. In an interview published in the Neue Zuercher Zeitung on Tuesday, Ignazio Cassis stated that while we are having difficult conversations with China regarding human rights, China is also an important partner in economic, and other matters.

“We are looking for a way to organize summits in Geneva such as that between Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin and peace talks. If we are always singing along with the other countries, then it is impossible to play the bridge-builder role.

Discussions have been taking place between the Swiss and EU governments about whether they will adopt sanctions against human rights that were imposed on China by March.

“The matter is under discussion. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs leads the charge. It is important to consider whether Switzerland wishes to remain an honest broker and if it will follow the EU’s lead in foreign policy. Cassis of the Liberals, a pro-business party, said, “The answer to my question is clear the first.”

1952 saw the recognition of Communist China by Switzerland, one of the first west-bound countries. China has been the United States’ third largest trade partner in Asia since 2010, and it is the second-largest global trading partner after the European Union.

In July 2014, a bilateral agreement for free trade was signed.