French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian pays official visit to Switzerland
Bern, 24.08.2018 - Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met France's Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on 24 August 2018 for an official working visit to Bern, during which the two officials discussed European issues and topics of international concern. In the margins of the meeting, Foreign Minister Le Drian confirmed that President Macron would receive the President of the Confederation, Alain Berset, in Paris on 12 September 2018 for a working meeting.
Following on from their first meeting in Paris at the end of 2017, Mr Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, met once again for a working lunch in Bern. Both ministers highlighted the importance of the very good relations that France and Switzerland have enjoyed for many years, covering various fields and characterised by regular contacts at different levels.
At their meeting, Mr Cassis briefed Mr Le Drian on the most recent developments in Switzerland's European policy. In addition, the two officials touched on the future of the EU and the challenges it currently faces. Also discussed were international issues such as the situation in Libya, Iran and in the Middle East. Mr Cassis reiterated Switzerland's readiness to engage with other European countries in order to tackle the challenges of migration in the Mediterranean.
With a trade volume of CHF 35 billion, France is Switzerland's fourth largest trading partner, while Switzerland is the fourth largest foreign investor in France. Some 127,000 French nationals live in Switzerland, while more than 190,000 Swiss nationals live in France. An additional 170,000 French nationals cross the border every day to work in Switzerland – more than half (55%) of all cross-border commuters to Switzerland.
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