President Ueli Maurer to travel to Russia and Kazakhstan

Bern, 19.11.2019 - President Ueli Maurer will travel to Russia this week, where he will meet with President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Switzerland is engaged in peacebuilding efforts in a number of conflicts in which Russia is a major player. After the meeting in Moscow, Mr Maurer will pay a working visit to Kazakhstan on Friday, during which he will meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss the further deepening of bilateral relations and cooperation at international level.

Issues set to be addressed during talks with President Putin include the conflicts in eastern Ukraine, the South Caucasus and Syria, as well as Switzerland’s peacebuilding efforts in these regions. Switzerland has held a protecting power mandate for Russia in Georgia and vice versa since March 2009. Discussions will also cover the development of economic relations. Mr Maurer is expected to pay a visit to Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev and meet with representatives from Swiss businesses in the country.

In Kazakhstan, Mr Maurer will hold talks with President Tokayev on the conditions necessary for intensifying economic exchanges, particularly in view of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the memorandum of understanding signed in Beijing in the spring on facilitating cooperation between Switzerland, China and third countries. In addition to the talks with President Tokayev, working meetings are scheduled to take place with Prime Minister Askar Mamin and Finance Minister Alikhan Smailov. Mr Maurer will also open a round table with business representatives from both countries and attend a reception jointly hosted by Switzerland and Kazakhstan.


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https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-77139.html