State visit by South Korean president Park Geun-Hye from 20 to 21 January 2014
Bern, 09.01.2014 - On invitation by the Federal Council, the president of the Republic of Korea will pay a state visit to Switzerland from 20 to 21 January 2014. Talks will centre on political, economic and scientific cooperation, as well as current international issues such as climate change and sustainable development. Various documents aimed at deepening bilateral relations will also be signed.
On 20 January 2014, the South Korean president will be welcomed by the entire Federal Council with military honours in Bern. The official talks will be led by Didier Burkhalter, president of the Swiss Confederation and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and the South Korean president. Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), and Federal Councillor Alain Berset, head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), will also take part in the talks. A gala dinner will be held in the evening.
The following day, the president of the Swiss Confederation will take his guest on a tour of the Bern High School for Vocational Education in Trade and Industry gibb to introduce Switzerland's dual vocational and professional education and training system to the South Korean president. The gibb is a cantonal institution for basic and further education and vocational training.
In 2013, Switzerland and the Republic of Korea celebrated 50 years of official bilateral relations. The country is one of Switzerland's most important political and economic partners in Asia. The official visit will afford an excellent opportunity to deepen the friendly relations between Switzerland and the Republic of Korea, and to identify common interests and possibilities for cooperation.
President Park will stay in Switzerland from 18 to 21 January 2014.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
Federal Department of Home Affairs
http://www.edi.admin.ch
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
https://www.uvek.admin.ch/uvek/en/home.html
