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.
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.
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.
The UNGA's 76th session officially began on 14 September 2021 and will continue for one year. The high-level opening of the new UNGA is taking place from 20 to 24 September. Last year's opening was carried out entirely online; this year, several face-to-face meetings will be possible again. Switzerland will be represented at the high-level opening of the UN General Assembly in New York by President of the Confederation Parmelin and Federal Councillor Cassis, head of the FDFA.
Switzerland’s three priorities for the UN General Assembly 76th session are the following:
Promoting Switzerland's candidacy and preparing for a seat on the UN Security Council: In the year leading up to the elections, Switzerland's activities in the General Assembly (UNGA) should be used to highlight the country's proactive and constructive profile at the UN with a view to Security Council membership. For example, Switzerland will take the leading role in several areas including humanitarian work, budgeting and peacebuilding. The objective is to ensure that Switzerland is elected by the UNGA in June 2022 with a solid mandate.
Sustainable development and dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Switzerland is committed to ensuring that the UN can continue to work effectively despite the current pandemic. To this end, the UN's responses should be based on scientific evidence. Implementation of the 2030 Agenda also remains a key concern. During the UNGA's 76th session the focus will be on the sustainability of food systems, the availability of reliable data, and environmental aspects. Switzerland will also present its second national country report on its implementation of the 2030 Agenda in July 2022 in New York.
Promoting a free, open and secure digital space: Switzerland plays an active role in the UN's processes on cybersecurity and cybercrime and promotes the application of international law in the digital space. It will also underline the key role played by International Geneva in the areas of cyber and digitalisation.
Switzerland will continue to work on all UN-related themes in addition to these three priorities so as to ensure that Swiss interests remain safeguarded. These topics include in particular the commitment to international law and specifically human rights as well as international humanitarian law, humanitarian affairs and sustainability and disarmament issues. Switzerland will also continue to play an active role in the ongoing UN reform process and in safeguarding the interests of International Geneva. All activities carried out by Switzerland are based on its foreign policy strategies, dispatches and guidelines.
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.
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.
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.
June 2021
16.06.2021: US–Russia: Geneva summit and bilateral meetings with Switzerland
US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Geneva on 16 June.
Delegations from Switzerland and the US had met the previous day to discuss strengthening economic relations and cooperation on education and research. Switzerland’s good offices were also a focus of the talks.
Following the summit in Geneva, a Swiss delegation headed by Swiss president Guy Parmelin met the Russian president Vladimir Putin and his delegation. Their talks focused on promoting bilateral relations, security issues in Europe and Switzerland’s good offices.
President Guy Parmelin was received by King Carl XVI Gustaf at the start of his visit to Sweden on Monday, 14 June 2021. He then met separately with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ibrahim Baylan and Minister for Higher Education and Research Matilda Ernkrans, and paid a courtesy visit to Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlén. The innovation agencies of Switzerland and Sweden signed a memorandum of understanding to further deepen their cooperation, which has been ongoing since 2013.
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10.06.2021: Slovenia
Swiss President Guy Parmelin met with President Borut Pahor during his visit to Slovenia on Wednesday 9 June. He also held talks with Prime Minister Janez Janša, Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek and Speaker of the National Assembly Igor Zorčič.
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May 2021
07.05.2021: Vatican
President Guy Parmelin paid a visit to the Vatican, where he met with Pope Francis and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new recruits of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
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March 2021
02.03.2021
Guy Parmelin travels to Vienna on his first trip abroad as President of the Swiss Confederation
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...
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.
