FDFA State Secretary on official visit to South Korea for political talks and inauguration of new Swiss embassy building
Bern, 17.05.2019 - FDFA State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl met her South Korean counterpart Mr Cho Hyun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, for political talks today in Seoul. Discussions focused on bilateral cooperation and the strengthening of the multilateral system. Ms Baeriswyl also took part in the inauguration of the new Swiss embassy building in Seoul and along with her South Korean counterpart signed the protocol revising the double taxation agreement between the two countries.
At the bilateral level, Ms Baeriswyl and Mr Cho discussed the air transport agreement and cooperation in education, research and innovation, among other things. During their meeting they also reviewed multilateral cooperation on climate change and human rights policy and on implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
In addition, the two sides discussed the current situation on the Korean peninsula, particularly with regard to Switzerland's involvement in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in Korea.
During her official visit to Seoul, Ms Baeriswyl took part in the inauguration of the new Swiss embassy, which was constructed according to the principles of sustainability and is powered by solar and geothermal energy. A special programme of events was put together for the inauguration in conjunction with the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Zurich, which were represented in Seoul by Basel Cantonal Councillor Conradin Cramer and Zurich Cantonal Councillor Ernst Stocker.
Switzerland and South Korea's close economic relations have grown closer still since the signing of a free trade agreement between South Korea and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 2006, with the volume of trade between the two countries exceeding the four billion mark for the first time last year. A research agreement to promote and facilitate scientific cooperation between Switzerland and South Korea has been in place since 2008. South Korea is a priority country for Switzerland within the framework of its cooperation policy in the areas of education, research and innovation.
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