The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the most sensitive radio telescope to date, will allow researchers to study the formation of the first stars and galaxies. Operation of the telescope is to be managed by the international Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) organisation. The Federal Council decided on 17 December that Switzerland will join the SKAO, following Parliament's decision to provide the funding necessary for full membership by 2030.
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.
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.
Swiss GDP grew by 1.7%, following an increase of 1.8% in the second quarter.* Value added grew markedly in the affected service sectors as a result of the further relaxation of COVID measures. Private consumption rose substantially in line with this. Overall, GDP was more than 1% higher in the third quarter than the pre-crisis level seen in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Switzerland's new foreign economic policy strategy was adopted by the Federal Council on 24 November. The world has changed profoundly since the turn of the millennium, and the Federal Council has revised its foreign economic policy in response to the economic, environmental, socio-political and geopolitical developments. The new strategy sets the course for the federal government's foreign economic policy in the medium to long term.
President of the Swiss National Science Foundation Matthias Egger and Director of the US National Science Foundation Sethuraman Panchanathan signed a memorandum of understanding in the presence of Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation. This agreement will create the basis for the foundations' long-term cooperation in promoting research.
President of the Confederation and EAER head Guy Parmelin signed a new memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Switzerland and the USA in the field of vocational education and training. Signed in Washington on 18 November, the agreement signals intensifying knowledge exchange between education and business stakeholders active in the public and private sectors in Switzerland and the USA.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Switzerland is currently a non-associated third country in terms of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon Europe”. Under this status, researchers and innovators in Switzerland do not receive funding from the European Commission. On 20 October, the Federal Council instructed the EAER to provide direct funding to the players concerned and approved the necessary credit reallocations.
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.
President of the Confederation Guy Parmelin and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis represent Switzerland at the high-level opening of the UN General Assembly in New York.
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.
From 22 to 25 July, Swiss president Guy Parmelin will be in Japan, where he will meet Prime Minister Yoshihide and the Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi. At a hybrid event held in Tokyo, the establishment of a new Swiss consulate in Osaka will be announced. On Friday 23 July, Mr Parmelin will attend the opening of the Olympic Games, prior to which a reception with Emperor Naruhito is scheduled. The programme also includes a meeting with IOC president Thomas Bach on Saturday.
June 2021
15.06.2021 Geneva
US–Russia summit and bilateral meetings with Switzerland
US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Geneva on 16 June. The President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, took part in the opening of the summit and met both presidents for bilateral talks.
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.
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.
The Square Kilometre Array, the most sensitive radio telescope developed so far, is being constructed to research the origin of the very first stars and galaxies. It will be operated by the international organisation Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). The Federal Council is requesting Parliament to increase the guarantee credit already approved so that Switzerland can become a member of the SKAO until 2030.
Switzerland is strengthening its cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in developing countries. On 12 May, the Federal Council decided to invest CHF 25 million in bilateral cooperation over the next five years.
Sentiment amongst Swiss households is improving. The results of the April survey show that expectations regarding general economic development in particular are becoming more positive. The likelihood of households making major purchases has also risen.
On 1 April, President Guy Parmelin received Mr Guy Ryder, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization ILO. In the presence of employers' and workers' associations, they signed Switzerland's new agreement on development cooperation with the ILO. Mr Parmelin also announced that Switzerland had joined Alliance 8.7, a global platform to eliminate child labour, forced labour and human trafficking.
At the invitation of President Guy Parmelin, a virtual informal ministerial meeting was held on 29 January on WTO-related issues. Among those taking part were ministers responsible for WTO affairs and WTO Deputy Director General Alan Wolff. Participants discussed trade policy challenges and priorities ahead of the twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference, particularly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
.png)
