Presidential year 2021
President Parmelin welcomes Kazakh president to Switzerland
<p>In the evening of Monday, 29 November, President Guy Parmelin welcomed Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Geneva. At their meeting, two agreements fostering trade between Switzerland and Kazakhstan were signed. Official talks centred on economic relations, cooperation between the two countries in international organisations and global issues.</p>
President Parmelin welcomes Kazakh president to Switzerland
Switzerland and Vietnam to further deepen relations
<p>On Friday, 26 November, President Guy Parmelin and Vietnamese President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met at Lohn Manor where they commended the close ties that have developed between Switzerland and Vietnam since diplomatic relations were established 50 years ago. Both sides stressed their intention to further deepen relations in the coming years.<br> </p>
Switzerland and Vietnam to further deepen relations
UN Climate Change Conference COP26: President Parmelin calls for return to path agreed in Paris
<p>President Guy Parmelin represented Switzerland at the World Leaders Summit at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow (UK). He stressed that current efforts to limit global warming to a maximum increase of 1.5 degrees, as required by the Paris Agreement, fall far short of the mark. The last remaining rules for implementing the Paris Climate Agreement adopted in 2015 are to be decided at COP26.<b> </b></p>
UN Climate Change Conference COP26: President Parmelin calls for return to path agreed in Paris
President Parmelin holds political talks on the fringes of Expo Dubai
<p>On Friday, 29 October, while on his trip to the Middle East, President Guy Parmelin met high-ranking representatives of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He held talks with the Minister of Finance, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Minister of Tolerance und Commissioner-General for Expo Dubai, Sheikh Nayan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, and the Minster of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri.<br> </p>
President Parmelin holds political talks on the fringes of Expo Dubai
President Parmelin visits Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory
<p>On Thursday, 28 October, President Guy Parmelin met with the respective presidents and government representatives of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. The talks focused in particular on bilateral cooperation in economic and science matters, and on Switzerland's peace promotion efforts. Cooperation in innovation promotion was also discussed in Israel, while in the occupied Palestinian territory the creation of jobs for young people was a central topic.<br> </p>
President Parmelin visits Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory
Georgia and Switzerland discuss further developing relations
<p>On 15 October, President Guy Parmelin and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), welcomed Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili at the Lohn Manor. This was the first official visit by a Georgian president to Switzerland.<br> </p>
Georgia and Switzerland discuss further developing relations
Guy Parmelin attends G20 Ministerial Meeting on trade and investment
<p>On Tuesday, 12 October, President Guy Parmelin attended the G20 Ministerial Meeting on trade and investment in Sorrento, Italy. Against the backdrop of the economic and health crisis related to COVID-19, ministers agreed to strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system for a resilient, strong, sustainable and inclusive economic recovery and to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on international trade and investment.</p>
Guy Parmelin attends G20 Ministerial Meeting on trade and investment
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis set priorities in New York for sustainability and political resolution of conflicts
<p>President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin and FDFA head Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis set various thematic priorities during the high-level week marking the opening of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.</p> <p><a href="https://www.wbf.admin.ch/wbf/en/home/dokumentation/nsb-news_list.msg-id-85223.html" target="_blank" rel="external" class="link--external" aria-label=">> Press release Open link in new tab"><b>>> Press release</b></a></p>
President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis set priorities in New York for sustainability and political resolution of conflicts
<p><a href="https://media.un.org/en/asset/k18/k18uuk7df8" target="_blank" rel="external" class="link--external" aria-label="Speech of the President of the Confederation Open link in new tab"><b>Speech of the President of the Confederation</b></a> at the UN General Assembly.</p>
President Guy Parmelin in dialogue with economy ministers from ASEAN nations
<p>President Guy Parmelin, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), held an online roundtable discussion with the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and several economic affairs ministers from the association’s member states. The dialogue was used to identify potential areas for economic cooperation.<br> </p>
President Guy Parmelin in dialogue with economy ministers from ASEAN nations
Resumption of high-level personal contacts with Romania
<p>On Thursday, 9 September, the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis met with President Guy Parmelin during an official visit to Switzerland. The discussions at Lohn Manor were also attended by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu. The talks focused on economic and scientific cooperation, the European policies of both countries and international security issues.<br> </p>
Resumption of high-level personal contacts with Romania
Swiss President Guy Parmelin meets Japanese Prime Minister Suga
<p>On Saturday, 24 July, following the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Swiss president Guy Parmelin met Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga. Their talks focused on the close cooperation between Japan and Switzerland in trade and research, as well as on global issues. They also announced the opening of a new consulate in Osaka, which will also include a new swissnex location. This is the sixth location of the Swiss network for education, research and innovation.</p>
Swiss President Guy Parmelin meets Japanese Prime Minister Suga
<p>Guy Parmelin travels to Vienna on his first trip abroad as President of the Swiss Confederation</p>
New Year's message for the diplomatic corps
<p>Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 2020 was a year to forget – and a year we will never forget. We have all learned a lot in the past months: about ourselves, the people around us, our countries, and the world we share. The pandemic has caused untold suffering, plunged numerous families and friends into mourning and devastated social life...</p> <p><a href="https://www.wbf.admin.ch/wbf/en/home/das-wbf/bundesrat/medienvideo-und-bilder/praesidialjahr-2021/neujahrsbotschaft.html" target="_blank" rel="external" class="link--external" aria-label="To the New Year's message for the diplomatic corps Open link in new tab"><b>To the New Year's message for the diplomatic corps</b></a><br> </p>
New Year's message for the diplomatic corps
Guy Parmelin elected President of the Swiss Confederation for 2021
<p>Switzerland's true strength lies in its cohesion! Those were the words of the President of the Swiss Confederation for 2021 as he addressed the Federal Assembly a few minutes after his election. The motto of the newly elected president is clear: We are stronger together. In these particularly turbulent times, cohesion is essential, he said in his acceptance speech. We all face the same challenges.<br> </p>
Guy Parmelin elected President of the Swiss Confederation for 2021