President Didier Burkhalter is visiting Japan from 3–6 February. The visit signals the start of celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of bilateral relations which are varied and intensive.

Priority country in Switzerland's Asia policy

The intensification of contacts with Japan, one of Asia’s leading countries, is part of Switzerland’s policy on Asia. The policy comprises the following elements:

• Extension of bilateral relations with Asian states
• Strengthened presence in regional forums
• A policy of solidarity with the countries of Asia

Priority country in Switzerland's Asia policy

The intensification of contacts with Japan, one of Asia’s leading countries, is part of Switzerland’s policy on Asia. The policy comprises the following elements:

• Extension of bilateral relations with Asian states
• Strengthened presence in regional forums
• A policy of solidarity with the countries of Asia

Meetings during the State Visit

President Didier Burkhalter delivered a welcome address to Crown Prince Naruhito at the residence of the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo. The Swiss and Japanese postal services have issued a set of stamps marking the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Crown Prince Naruhito thanked Switzerland for its solidarity following the tsunami in 2011. This showed that the friendly relationship between the two countries remains constant even in times of crisis.

Speech by President Didier Burkhalter

President Didier Burkhalter met with Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss cooperation between the two countries. The Japanese foreign minister announced that Japan will support the Montreux Document. The initiative launched jointly by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross on 17 September 2008 aims to promote greater respect for international law in conflict zones. It is the first document to provide an overview of the obligations under international law of private military and security companies operating in armed conflict zones.

The Montreux Document

Death penalty

President Burkhalter further proposed including cooperation on legal matters and the issue of the death penalty in its dialogue with Japan. Switzerland favours a world without the death penalty. Japan is among the states in which the death penalty continues to be applied.

FDFA Strategy for the Universal Abolition of the Death Penalty 2013–2016

On the third day of his state visit to Japan, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Didier Burkhalter, met the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Shinzo Abe. Their discussions focused on the politics of the region, namely relations between Japan, China and North Korea. Within the framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which Switzerland is chairing in 2014, Mr Burkhalter proposed to Japan to discuss security matters in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Open skies"

The ambassadors of the two countries also signed the "Open skies" agreement, which will regulate the framework conditions for air traffic between Switzerland and Japan. The agreement will give Swiss airlines greater freedom in their route planning.

The President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Didier Burkhalter, also visited the research and development centre of the Japanese firm Takeda in the city of Kamakura, which lies approximately 50km south-west of Tokyo.

Important agreements on bilateral relations

Political and economic relations between Switzerland and Japan have been strengthened in recent years through a number of agreements:

• Agreement between Switzerland and Japan on Social Security (in force since 1.3.2012)
• Revision of the Double Taxation Agreement (in force since 30.12.2011)
• Agreement on Intensified Political Cooperation (in force since 2010)
• Free Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (in force since 1.9.2009)
  It is Japan’s first free trade agreement with a European country. Switzerland considers it to be the most important free trade agreement in force alongside that with the European Community, which has been in place since 1972.
• Cooperation in medical research
• Cooperation agreement in the field of science and research (in force since 10.7.2007)

Japan is one of Switzerland's seven priority countries for bilateral research cooperation and is an important like-minded partner in multilateral affairs.

Economic relations

Japan is Switzerland's fourth largest economic partner in the world (after the EU, the USA and China). In 2012, the value of Swiss exports to Japan rose to CHF 6.7 billion and imports stood at CHF 4.2 billion. Switzerland's main exports to Japan include chemical and pharmaceutical products, watches and machinery. Switzerland primarily imports motor vehicles, precious metals, jewellery, machinery and chemical products. Trade in services also plays a major role as does Swiss investment in Japan, whether in the secondary or tertiary sector Japan is the second most important trading partner in Asia after China. It is also Switzerland's fourth largest economic partner in the world after the EU, the USA and China. In 2012 the volume of trade exceeded CHF 11 billion. Switzerland's main exports to Japan included chemical and pharmaceutical products, medical devices, watches, jewellery and precious metals. Switzerland's main imports from Japan include cars, precious metals, therapeutic products and machinery.

Cultural exchanges

Exchanges at cultural level are encouraged by the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo and the Japanese Embassy in Bern. In 2005 Switzerland was represented at the World Expo in Aichi. Renowned Swiss architects such as Herzog and de Meuron, Mario Botta and Le Corbusier completed building projects in in Japan. As part of this year's anniversary celebrations a host of cultural events will be held in Japan aimed at showcasing Swiss culture for the people of Japan and further strengthening cultural relations between the two countries. The Japanese Embassy is also organising numerous events in Switzerland.

History of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Japan

Official relations between Switzerland and Japan began in the middle of the 19th century. In 1862 the Federal Council appointed Aimé Humbert-Droz as minister plenipotentiary and gave him the task of negotiating an agreement with Japan. Humbert-Droz, a watchmaker from the canton of Neuchâtel, travelled to Japan in 1863 where a Treaty of Amity and Trade was concluded. This marked the beginning of flourishing trade between the two countries. Numerous Swiss trading firms subsequently set up business in Japan. In 1906 Switzerland opened a representation in Tokyo.

The Japanese Emperor considers the visit by President Burkhalter, who is also from Neuchâtel, to be a sign for the two countries to inject even more dynamism into their relations.

Relations between Switzerland and Japan continued even during the Second World War. During the war years, Switzerland represented the interests of numerous countries in Japan, such as the USA and the UK.