4. Digitalisation: Switzerland is keen to utilise the opportunities offered by digitalisation in tech-savvy Asia, particularly in the field of business and innovation. Meanwhile, the challenges in the cyber area and in the protection of privacy are particularly great in Asia. Asian countries and tech companies also have a key role to play in digital governance due to their dominant position on the internet. Priority country China: China’s growing economic and political weight has also seen Swiss-Chinese relations intensify. The free trade agreement signed in 2013 provides a framework for economic cooperation with Switzerland’s third most important trading partner. In addition, there are bilateral cooperation arrangements in some 30 areas, which facilitate finding systematic solutions. In 2016, the two countries set up an innovative strategic partnership. There are challenges, particularly in terms of the different political systems, on human rights issues and in the area of security policy. The growing polarisation between the major powers is also challenging. Conflicts of interest are likely to be more frequent in future as the different value systems become more marked, particularly at multilateral level. The need for strategic coordination on the Swiss side – both between departments and between the federal government and cantons – is growing. With the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China continues to pursue its biggest foreign policy project to date. The Federal Council’s policy seeks to use the opportunities presented by the BRI for Swiss interests and the economy. At the same time, it calls for compliance with universal values and rules to ensure that the BRI can be implemented sustainably − in economic, social and environmental terms − for the benefit of target countries. Sustainable development in China is crucial to the successful management of global environmental risks. 28 Geographical level Priority country India: The ‘world’s largest democracy’ and the soon-to-be most populous country in the world is likely to become more important geopolitically in the coming years. Switzerland’s bilateral relations with India are diverse, as shown by the large number of agreements, e.g. in the areas of trade, aviation, finance and taxation, as well as development cooperation and science and technology cooperation. Switzerland is keen to intensify relations with India: at economic level to allow Swiss businesses to participate in India’s economic success and to diversify economic interests; and at political level because India is traditionally committed to democratic values and aspires to play a role internationally. In recent years, however, sovereignty-oriented tendencies have been raising more questions, both regarding domestic policy developments and in the regional context. India is a key player in terms of environmental policy, as sustainable development in this emerging economy will be crucial to limiting global warming to 1.5°C and preserving natural resources. Priority country Japan: Japan faces a strategically challenging environment: as an alliance partner of the United States with increasing economic dependency on China, it seeks a middle way between the polarised major powers. Territorial conflicts with its neighbours and the growing influence of China in the region are fuelling disputes. As the world’s third-largest economy, Japan is an important economic and research partner for Switzerland. In addition, Japan and Switzerland often share the same views in multilateral bodies.