For the Federal Council, the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos provides a unique opportunity to cultivate relations with a great many leading figures in a special setting. It is an outstanding platform for Switzerland to be able to host this forum for the exchange of views and the search for solutions.

President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), will open the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos on 25 January together with Prof. Klaus Schwab. Later that day and on Thursday and Saturday, she will hold discussions with various heads of state and government. President Widmer-Schlumpf will meet the Polish President, Bronislaw Komorowski, the Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra, and the Russian Vice Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov. President Widmer-Schlumpf will also take the opportunity to foster bilateral contacts at the highest level.

Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA), will be in Davos between 25 and 29 January. While in Davos he will meet counterparts from various countries including Luis de Guindos from Spain, Craig Emerson from Australia and Anand Sharma from India, as well as Motohisa Furukawa from Japan, whose portfolio also includes science and technology. Further meetings are planned with European Commissioners Michel Barnier and Karel de Gucht, the Director General of the World Food Organisation FAO, José Graziano da Silva, and the Director General of the International Labour Organisation ILO, Juan Somavia. On Saturday, 28 January the head of the FDEA will host an informal working meeting at ministerial level. The aim of the meeting, to be attended by around 25 ministers, is to discuss ways and opportunities of reaching a settlement between participating states in terms of weighting and influence in the WTO Doha Round.

Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), will co-chair an «Energy Summit» on 28 January on the theme of new sustainable energy models for cities. Those participating will include the South African Energy Minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, the Columbian Energy Minister Mauricio Cárdenas and the German Minister for Transport, Construction and Urban Development, Peter Ramsauer, along with representatives from cities and the fields of science and industry.

Federal Councillor Leuthard will also visit further energy-related events and meet Philipp Rösler, the German Minister of Economics and Technology, Antonio Tajani, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, as well as the Commissioners for Energy, Günther Oettinger, and Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, and Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program UNEP.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will use his first visit to the WEF Annual Meeting to foster contacts and meet his European counterparts present in Davos, as well as the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Antonio Patriota. Also on the new foreign minister's agenda is a meeting alongside President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Didier Burkhalter will also speak before members of the Global Compact, a network of businesses committed to promoting sustainable development and civil society. The head of the FDFA will attend the opening of the Annual Meeting on Wednesday and stay in Davos until Friday.

Federal Councillor Alain Berset will make initial contacts in Davos with important actors from FDHA-related fields such as public health, education and research. During his two-day visit meetings are planned with the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer  Policy, John Dalli, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, Michelle Bachelet, the Director of the World Health Organisation WHO, Margaret Chan, the Director General of CERN in Geneva, Rolf Dieter Heuer, and the Indian Minister for Science and Technology, Ashwani Kumar.

Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport will visit troops on deployment on behalf of canton Graubünden in and around Davos. Meetings are also planned with representatives from bodies from the world of sport and counterparts from various states.

Representing parliament, the President of the National Council, Hansjörg Walter, and the President of the Council of States, Hans Altherr, will also be in Davos.

The WEF Annual Meeting in Davos provides occasion for many more contacts and discussions. The programme outlined here is therefore subject to last minute changes.

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The Federal Council

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Federal Chancellery

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