FDFA

The Asia G20 Strategy 2025–28, approved by the Federal Council, reflects Switzerland's diverse interests in relation to five key actors in Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea. These G20 countries play a major role in the global economy and geopolitical developments. This strategy updates the China Strategy 2021–24, which proved to be a successful coordination and communication instrument.

This year, the FDFA is again looking to recruit experienced colleagues to various posts in Switzerland and abroad. To increase the visibility of consular careers, the FDFA has redesigned the consular career path which now has a two-tier 'specialist' and 'management' structure. The application process for transferable careers in general starts on 26 May 2025. Applications for consular careers at specialist level may be submitted from 28 July 2025.

Palazzo Trevisan degli Ulivi embodies the close ties between Switzerland and Italy. On 9 May, Federal Councillors Ignazio Cassis and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider signed an agreement at the palace which, as of 1 January 2026, will transform this emblematic venue into a platform incorporating various forms of collaboration in the fields of culture, innovation, research and sustainability. But what is the story behind it?

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will visit Japan and the People's Republic of China from 22 to 25 April 2025. The aim of this visit to Asia is to strengthen political relations and promote Switzerland's economic interests with two important partners.

Of the 826,700 Swiss nationals living abroad, 24% are over 65 years old. Estate planning, health insurance and banking issues can be a challenge for pensioners abroad. For this reason, the FDFA's Consular Directorate (CD) launched a range of information and communication channels to raise awareness of these potential challenges among Swiss nationals abroad.

This year's International Cooperation Forum, on 27 and 28 February, explores the role of interdisciplinary collaboration between the engineering, natural and social sciences. ETH Zurich will host the event. The event will be jointly organised by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which is part of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER). Innovations that are informed by an understanding of people and their environment have real potential to improve the lives of poor communities. The FDFA fosters this potential by supporting study and research programmes.