The trip is a realization of the regional strategy.

According to an announcement from the Swiss Foreign Ministry, during his visit to China, India, South Korea, and the Philippines from February 5 to 8, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will focus on discussing Switzerland's relations with these countries.

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. Source: DPA

In India, Mr. Cassis is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss progress in bilateral economic cooperation and collaboration in various fields, as well as current important international issues, particularly measures to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

In South Korea, the Swiss Foreign Minister will hold his first talks with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, and is expected to focus on global security issues. Following this, in China, Foreign Minister Cassis is scheduled to meet with his counterpart, Wang Yi. At the second high-level meeting between the two foreign ministers this year, they will also discuss global security issues such as the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula, and cooperation in multilateral forums.

Finally, on the first visit by a Swiss Federal Councillor to Manila since 2008, Foreign Minister Cassis will meet with Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo and discuss economic relations, Switzerland's contribution to Philippine nation-building, human rights cooperation, and the geopolitical situation in the Asia-Pacific region. The trip is a priority in Switzerland's new Foreign Policy Strategy, following the government's first-ever adoption of its Asia-Pacific regional strategy for 2023-2026. This strategy is similar to those Switzerland has applied to the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, China, and the Americas.

With Asian economies having regained significant growth momentum over the past two years, the geopolitical importance of the Asia-Pacific region is increasing. Analysts believe that Switzerland's move to diversify its relationships across Asia takes into account the growing importance of Southeast Asia, one of the world's most dynamic economic regions, and complements the Swiss government's China strategy.

HANH CHI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/chuyen-di-hien-thuc-hoa-chien-luoc-khu-vuc-post725570.html