Press releases

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Palazzo Trevisan to remain outpost of Swiss excellence in Venice

09.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal councillors Ignazio Cassis and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider announced in Venice today the future set-up for the Palazzo Trevisan. As of 1 January 2026, the main floor of the palace will be turned into a platform managed by the FDFA which will not only build on the palace's important role in promoting Swiss culture but will also incorporate new activities in the fields of innovation, research and sustainability. This development is the result of collaboration between the FDFA and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), with the dual aim of strengthening the Palazzo Trevisan as a vector of Swiss excellence in Venice, and of further enriching the dense network of relations between Switzerland and Italy.

International trade: Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin hold meetings with delegations from the United States and China

09.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
On Friday, 9 May 2025 in Geneva, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, and the Vice President of the Federal Council, Guy Parmelin, met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Prior to that, they met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

International cooperation: targeted Swiss support for UN agencies and International Geneva

08.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has decided the FDFA will grant CHF 39 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Women, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for 2025. By renewing these contributions, the FDFA is also sending out a strong signal in support of International Geneva.

Switzerland's contribution to democracy promotion – new FDFA guidelines

07.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 7 May 2025 the FDFA published the Guidelines on Democracy, which set out objectives for democracy promotion and identify foreign policy instruments for strengthening democratic processes and institutions.

Ignazio Cassis meets with Hungarian foreign minister in Bern

05.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, today received the Hungarian foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, in Bern for an official working visit. The talks centred on bilateral relations, European policy and current geopolitical issues.

Swiss–EU package: Federal Council calls for optional referendum

30.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 30 April 2025, the Federal Council took stock of the ongoing work on the Swiss–EU package. It decided to call an optional referendum on the agreements with the European Union (EU). In taking this decision, the Federal Council is signalling political continuity and coherence and giving Parliament and the cantons room for manoeuvre. Parliament will ultimately determine the nature of the referendum in the course of its deliberations.

Switzerland steps up its support for Africa

30.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
The Federal Council wants to contribute towards increasing the guarantee capital of the African Development Bank (AfDB). It is requesting Parliament to approve a guarantee credit of CHF 1.56 billion, as decided on 30 April. This would strengthen Switzerland's influence in the AfDB and help to further sustainable and inclusive economic development in Africa.

Switzerland's international cooperation: FDFA provides core contributions for 22 Swiss implementation partners

25.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Swiss NGOs help implement the Federal Councillor’s International Cooperation Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with their expertise, knowledge of local contexts, and networks. For the 2025-2026 period, the SDC has earmarked core contributions totalling CHF 235 million for Switzerland’s contracting partners.

China: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis meets Foreign Minister Wang Yi and hails 75 years of bilateral relations

25.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
The head of Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, visited the People's Republic of China on 24 and 25 April 2025. His visit marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Switzerland established official relations with China in 1950, making it one of the first European countries to do so. In addition to an official meeting with China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, Mr Cassis' visit focused on efforts to modernise the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries in order to improve market access for Swiss companies.

Uzbekistan: inauguration of the first maternity units modernised thanks to Karimova assets returned by Switzerland

24.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Uzbekistan's first modernised maternity units were officially inaugurated today. The units were updated through a project funded by assets belonging to Gulnara Karimova, which had been definitively confiscated in Switzerland and restituted to the population of Uzbekistan. The aim of the USD 43.5 million project, implemented by the UN, is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates by strengthening the capacity of healthcare facilities and improving the monitoring and care of mothers-to-be, young mothers, and babies.

Innovation and trade at heart of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis's official visit to Japan

23.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis conducted an official visit to Japan on 22 and 23 April 2025, leading the Swiss delegation at the World Expo in Osaka on Switzerland's National Day. In Tokyo, he held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and representatives of Japan's commerce, science and education ministries as well as a meeting with IT giant NEC, which will be setting up a new centre in Zurich.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on official visit to Japan and China from 22 to 25 April 2025

17.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, will visit Japan and the People's Republic of China from 22 to 25 April. The aim of the trip is to strengthen political ties and promote Switzerland's economic interests with two key partners. In Japan, the focus will be on innovation, technology, trade and multilateral cooperation. In China, discussions will mainly cover bilateral relations, economic issues and current geopolitical questions.

Media (3461)

Palazzo Trevisan to remain outpost of Swiss excellence in Venice

International trade: Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin hold meetings with delegations from the United States and China

International cooperation: targeted Swiss support for UN agencies and International Geneva

Switzerland's contribution to democracy promotion – new FDFA guidelines

Ignazio Cassis meets with Hungarian foreign minister in Bern

Swiss–EU package: Federal Council calls for optional referendum

Switzerland steps up its support for Africa

Switzerland's international cooperation: FDFA provides core contributions for 22 Swiss implementation partners

China: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis meets Foreign Minister Wang Yi and hails 75 years of bilateral relations

Uzbekistan: inauguration of the first maternity units modernised thanks to Karimova assets returned by Switzerland

Innovation and trade at heart of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis's official visit to Japan

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on official visit to Japan and China from 22 to 25 April 2025

Other news (300)

FDFA calls for end to violence and new elections in Bolivia

11.11.2019 — EDA
The FDFA is closely following recent political developments in Bolivia with concern and calls for new elections to reflect the political will of the people. The FDFA stands ready to support Bolivia in preparing for such elections.

International Law Day 2019: FDFA Directorate of International Law launches discussion on 'soft law'

08.11.2019 — EDA
The FDFA Directorate of International Law (DIL) held its annual International Law Day on 8 November. This year’s event focused on soft law. The event provided an opportunity to discuss this topical issue in the presence of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and a broad audience, and in particular to consider how to better involve Parliament in soft law matters.

Swiss woman injured in Jordan

06.11.2019 — EDA
The FDFA is assisting a Swiss woman wounded in a knife attack on 6 November in the Jordanian city of Jerash. She has received medical treatment and her life is not in danger. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis was informed directly by his counterpart, Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi, who reassured him that the Swiss tourist is being cared for in Jordan.

FDFA notes resignation of UNRWA Commissioner-General

06.11.2019 — EDA
The United Nations (UN) has announced the resignation of the Commissioner-General for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Pierre Krähenbühl. The announcement follows the launch of an investigation into misconduct allegations involving UNRWA's management. The FDFA notes the resignation and calls for a full and thorough clarification of the facts. Switzerland will withhold payment of its project contributions pending the outcome of the investigation.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis receives the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

05.11.2019 — EDA
Switzerland ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) precisely 20 years ago. To mark the occasion, Federal Councillor and Head of the FDFA Ignazio Cassis met with the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Lassina Zerbo, in Bern. During the meeting, Mr Cassis emphasised the CTBT’s indispensable role in building a world without nuclear weapons. The CTBTO works closely with scientific institutions, including the Swiss Seismological Service at ETH Zurich in Davos, to monitor compliance with the ban. These monitoring activities are also an example of how science and diplomacy can work together to solve political problems.

Swiss expert Marcel Jullier re-elected to UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions

01.11.2019 — EDA
The UN General Assembly has re-elected Swiss expert Marcel Jullier for a second three-year term on the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. Mr Jullier is a specialist in accounting and controlling. His re-election also advances Switzerland's efforts for adequate Swiss representation in international organisations.

Switzerland commits to the French language as a diplomatic instrument and supports reforms by the new Secretary General of La Francophonie

31.10.2019 — EDA
FDFA Head Ignazio Cassis attended the 36th Francophonie Ministerial Conference in Monaco on 30 and 31 October. As the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF) prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year in Tunis, the foreign ministers of its member states and governments have decided to refocus the organisation on its main missions, in particular its values (peace, the rule of law and democracy) and the promotion and defence of the French language.

Ignazio Cassis attends Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie in Monaco

29.10.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will attend the annual Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie in Monaco on 30 and 31 October. This will be an opportunity to review the work of the International Organisation of La Francophonie as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Celebrating 25 years of the World Conference on Women in Beijing: Switzerland is strongly committed to equal pay and combating domestic violence

28.10.2019 — EDA
On 29 and 30 October 2019, Geneva will be transformed into a platform for an international exchange on gender equality and women's rights as the host of the European preparatory conference for the global review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The two-day event is taking place within the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Switzerland will play a key role, with both a Swiss delegation participating in the debates and State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl co-chairing the conference.

Zunft zu Rebleuten 2019 (de)

26.10.2019 — EDA
Riehen, 26.10.2019 - Speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis - Check against delivery

Ignazio Cassis meets China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in Bern to discuss bilateral cooperation, human rights and multilateralism

22.10.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis met China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on 22 October 2019, as the two countries gear up to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations. The meeting provided an opportunity to explore issues of current interest to both countries. The meeting builds on the strategic dialogue established between Switzerland and China in 2017 and follows on from Mr Cassis visit to Beijing in April 2018.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis receives UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen to discuss a political solution to the Syrian conflict

21.10.2019 — EDA
Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis has met with the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, in Bern to discuss the situation in Syria and possible ways of finding a political solution. They conferred about the most recent escalation of the conflict in north-eastern Syria and the upcoming first meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva by the end of the month. Switzerland provides humanitarian support for the people of Syria and neighbouring countries.

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