Ignazio Cassis receives Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received in Bern the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Tomáš Petříček. European politics, international issues and intense relations between the two countries – characterized by excellent economic relations and close cultural and social ties – marked the meeting between the two foreign ministers.

06.10.2020
Ignazio Cassis and Tomáš Petříček are talking while sitting at a table.

European politics, international issues and intense relations between the two countries marked the meeting between the two foreign ministers. © Keystone

"Our bilateral relations have grown steadily over the years and become ever closer”: this is how Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis described the strength of Swiss-Czech bilateral relations, in the spotlight bevor the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček on October 6. The Czech Republic is one of Switzerland’s main trading partners among the new EU member states and is an important destination for Swiss investment in Central Europe. The two countries also share strong and diverse cultural ties. The Swiss and Czech foreign ministers discussed areas in which their collaboration could be further enhanced, such as in the context of the United Nations and the 2030 Agenda. 

Ignazio Cassis and Tomáš Petříček are standing in front of an entrance, next to them the flags of their respective countries.
The two Foreign Ministers emphasized their desire to develop the close partnership between the countries in other areas. © Keystone

European policy has also been a topic discussed by the two ministers: Ignazio Cassis underlined the importance of maintaining good and stable Swiss-EU relations and explained the upcoming decisions on European policy. In addition, both countries' post-Brexit relationship with the United Kingdom were on the agenda. In the field of cooperation in Europe, the theme of the coronavirus pandemic has been addressed, which saw the two countries working together on the repatriation of their respective citizens and which stressed the importance of close collaboration with European countries.  

Finally, they discussed the situation in Belarus and other international issues of geostrategic concern. Mr Cassis stressed Switzerland's commitment to a strong and effective multilateral system. Switzerland also has a major interest in a rules-based international order and a robust and future-oriented UN.

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