Bilateral relations

In March, the European Parliament will decide whether or not to approve the new Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) agreed between the European Union and the United Kingdom on 24 December 2020. The agreement governs relations between the EU and the UK after the latter's departure from the EU (Brexit). It was signed on 30 December 2020 and has been applied provisionally since the beginning of the year.

At the end of January, Swiss Humanitarian Aid completed the first phase of its mission in Croatia. Some 20 mobile housing units for victims of the recent earthquake were delivered to the country's civil protection authorities. Ambassador Emilija Georgieva speaks to us from Zagreb about the embassy's role in Croatia and the good relations the two countries have cultivated over the years. Cooperation and dialogue emerged as the key themes.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will be on an official visit to Africa from 7 to 13 February 2021. He will travel to Algeria, Mali, Senegal and The Gambia, where he will meet with government representatives to discuss implementation of the recently adopted FDFA strategies for the MENA region and sub-Saharan Africa. These set out Switzerland's future engagement in the two regions. Efforts will focus on four thematic areas derived from the Foreign Policy Strategy: peace, security and human rights; prosperity; sustainability; and digitalisation.

Africa is becoming increasingly relevant and presents new opportunities despite major challenges. On 13 January 2021, the Federal Council adopted the Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy through which it intends to implement the Foreign Policy Strategy in the countries south of the Sahara. For the first time, Switzerland is consolidating the various policy areas into a coherent overall approach. The aim is broad-based cooperation with its African partners on an equal footing.

Following the incidents around the Capitol in Washington DC, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis condemned any attack on freedom, democracy and national integrity. At the same time, he underlined his confidence in the institutions of the USA. State Secretary Livia Leu received the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Bern.

Switzerland and China are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations. What began with a telegram on 17 January 1950 has grown into a close and multifaceted relationship. Switzerland continues to take a constructive shaping role in this partnership, addressing differences on an equal footing with China. What follows are seven stories on seven decades of lively relations covering partnership, diplomacy, economic affairs, science, culture, tourism and sport.