Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter in China to strengthen scientific ties
Bern, 15.04.2011 - Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will travel to China on a working visit between 21 and 27 April. The main aim of the visit will be to strengthen scientific ties between the two countries. This will be reinforced with the signing of a declaration of intent. The head of the Federal De-partment of Home Affairs (FDHA) will be accompanied on the trip by the Presidents of the two Federal Institutes of Technology, Ralph Eichler (ETH Zurich) and Patrick Aebischer (EPF Lausanne). The visit is also designed to coincide with celebrations marking the centenary of Tsinghua University in Beijing, whose new library was designed by the Swiss architect Mario Botta. The Federal Councillor will hold meetings with three of his counterparts: the ministers of science and technology, education and health.
The first stage of the visit will take place in Shanghai where the head of the FDHA will hold discus-sions with the heads of research and development of several major Swiss companies (Novartis, Roche, Lonza) as well as researchers involved in bilateral scientific cooperation projects. Didier Burkhalter will also visit the Swiss science hub in Shanghai, swissnex China, and attend the opening of the ‘swiss new media’ exhibition organised by Pro Helvetia at the Minsheng Art Museum. The programme will be rounded off with a visit to Tongji University and the Shanghai Synchotron Radiation Facility – two institutions which have strong ties to the ETH Domain.
In Beijing, Federal Councillor Burkhalter will hold meetings with Yuan Guiren, Minister of Education, Chen Zhu, Minister of Health and Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology. The focus of talks with the latter will be on strengthening scientific relations between China and Switzerland. China is a priority country in the Federal Council’s international strategy on education, research and innovation (ERI) and one of Switzerland’s privileged partners in terms of scientific cooperation. The declaration of intent which will be signed by the two ministers underlines the mutual desire to deepen the partnership, particularly in the context of the SSSTC programme (Sino-Swiss Science and Technology Coop-eration) launched in 2004. The signing demonstrates the wish on the part of Switzerland and China to continue the gradual development of their cooperation. The programme also includes a visit to the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), an important partner to Swiss higher education institutions.
The inauguration of the social sciences library at Tsinghua University in Beijing designed by Mario Botta will be another highlight of Federal Councillor Burkhalter’s visit to China. The inauguration forms part of the centenary celebrations of this prestigious university, sometimes considered to be the Chinese equivalent of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The head of the FDHA will go on to meet his counterpart in charge of public health. The two ministers will gauge the strengthened cooperation between the two countries, particularly on the issue of the fight against infectious and non-communicable diseases. The joint declaration that they will adopt also envisages cooperation between four Swiss cantons (Vaud, Basel-Stadt, Zurich and Geneva) and four Chinese municipalities, including Shanghai and Kunming, in the area of hospital reform. In addition, the head of the FDHA will hold talks with the Minister of Education: the two ministers will address the possibilities of strengthening cooperation between Switzerland and China in the field of higher education.
The last leg of the working visit will take Federal Councillor Burkhalter to southern China. In Shenzen, the head of the FDHA will visit the company Huawai, a world leader in the field of telecommunications, which has had an office in Switzerland since 2009. The Federal Councillor will take advantage of his presence in Hong Kong to visit the exhibition on Einstein presented by Switzerland with the support of Presence Switzerland, which is touring several Chinese cities.
Address for enquiries
Jean-Marc Crevoisier, Head of FDHA Communications
Tel. 079 763 84 10
Publisher
General Secretariat FDHA
http://www.edi.admin.ch
