Bilateral Relations Switzerland–Macao
Macau has been a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China since 20 December 1999. Switzerland therefore does not have a separate foreign policy for Macau.
Key Aspects of Bilateral Relations
Macau does not have its own foreign policy and its volume of trade with Switzerland is low. The consulate general in Hong Kong is responsible for Switzerland's consular affairs in Macau.
Consulate general of Switzerland in Hong Kong
Swiss Nationals in Macau
At the end of 2021, there were 38 Swiss citizens living in Macau.
History of Bilateral Relations
From 1557 to 1999, Macau was a Portuguese colony that served as an outpost for the Western presence in the Far East as well as a gateway for Catholic missionaries. The first Swiss national to settle in Macau was the Fribourg Jesuit Nicolaus Fiva (1609–1640) in 1637.
In the second half of the 19th century, Macau was increasingly overshadowed by the rising trading centre of Hong Kong. Since 20 December 1999, Macau has been a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. Joseph Deiss, the Swiss foreign minister at the time, attended the ceremony marking the handover of the city to China.
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