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.
More content can be found in the Story Highlight on the @guy.parmelin Instagram account or by clicking on the following link.
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.
More content can be found in the Story Highlight on the @guy.parmelin Instagram account or by clicking on the following link.
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.
