MFA Press Statement: Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo to Switzerland and Liechtenstein 24-31 January 2010

During his bilateral visit to Switzerland from 24-27 January 2010, Minister George Yeo visited Geneva, Fribourg, Bern and Zurich. Minister Yeo was hosted to a lunch meeting by Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy-Rey in Bern on 26 January 2010. He also met with members of the diplomatic corps, and with heads and representatives of international organisations based in Geneva on 25 January 2010 and with past President of the Swiss Confederation Joseph Deiss in Fribourg on 26 January 2010. While in Bern, Minister Yeo also met with Mayor of Bern Alexander Tschäppät at the Einstein Haus.

Minister Yeo and Federal Councillor Calmy-Rey had an extensive discussion of bilateral issues and regional developments in Europe and Asia, including the EU and ASEAN. Both Ministers agreed that Singapore and Switzerland, which already cooperated closely in many areas, should continue to explore more avenues to further bilateral relations.

Singapore and Switzerland are part of the Global Governance Group (3G), comprising 28 small and medium-sized countries, which was established in New York to discuss global governance issues. While both Ministers concurred that the G20 had played a useful role in keeping the global economy on track, they also felt that it was important for the G20 to take into account the views of small and medium-sized states. They agreed that the 3G could be used to channel the views of small and medium UN member states into the G20 process.

Minister Yeo met with Permanent Representatives of the 3G in Geneva to continue the discussions initiated in New York. Minister Yeo also hosted lunch for heads and representatives of international organisations based in Geneva, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and World Health Organisation (WHO). They discussed ways in which Singapore could strengthen its relations with these international organisations. Minister Yeo also had lunch with his old friend and colleague, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy. While in Geneva, Minister Yeo also officiated the inauguration of the new Chancery of the Singapore Permanent Mission (UN and WTO) in Geneva.

In his meeting with the past President of the Swiss Confederation Dr Joseph Deiss, Minister Yeo reaffirmed Singapore's full support to his endeavours as President of the 65th UN General Assembly (2010-2011), a post for which Dr Deiss has been nominated by the Western European and Others Group at the UN.

While in Zurich, Minister Yeo addressed the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce and visited ETH-Zurich, which has established the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) for Global Sustainability in collaboration with the National Research Foundation.

From Zurich, Minister Yeo will travel to Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meetings from 27 - 30 January 2010. He will visit Vaduz, Liechtenstein after the WEF Meetings.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
27 JANUARY 2010