State Secretary Roberto Balzaretti represents Switzerland at the ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Madrid
Bern, 16.12.2019 - Roberto Balzaretti, State Secretary and head of the Directorate for European Affairs (DEA) at the FDFA, represented Switzerland at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Madrid on 15 and 16 December 2019. As well as attending the plenary session, Switzerland sought to engage in bilateral exchanges with delegates from several European and Asian countries.
ASEM is an intergovernmental forum for dialogue and cooperation at which member states discuss political, economic, social and cultural issues with a view to deepening relations between Asia and Europe. Switzerland has been a member of ASEM since 2012.
In Madrid, State Secretary Balzaretti stressed the importance of ASEM for Switzerland: "The central theme of this foreign ministers' meeting – Together for effective multilateralism – is one of Switzerland's core concerns. At a time when nationalist and protectionist attitudes are causing some key achievements of international cooperation to be called into question, it is all the more evident that global challenges such as climate change and migration can only be successfully managed through multilateralism and an internationally recognised legal basis."
The ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting also provided an opportunity for an open and informal exchange of views with European and Asian partners.
In Madrid Mr Balzaretti also met with Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) H. E. Lim Jock Hoi. In the discussion, the secretary-general expressed ASEAN's interest in further expanding its already close working relationship with Switzerland.
ASEM was established in 1996 and currently has 53 member states. These countries account for 60% of the world's population today and almost 60% of global GDP. The meetings of foreign ministers are held every two years, alternately in Europe and Asia.
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