Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference: global security and bilateral relations at centre of talks

On 10 July, at the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Cassis attended a meeting with the current ASEAN chair (Malaysia) and Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. The head of the FDFA highlighted the importance of the Dialogue Partnership between Switzerland and ASEAN aimed at strengthening economic and bilateral relations with South East Asian countries. He also noted ASEAN's important role in promoting dialogue and multilateralism, which are so crucial at a time of growing global challenges. The importance of digital transformation and science diplomacy for sustainable development was also discussed.

ASEAN is Switzerland's most important partner organisation in South East Asia. Switzerland's relations with the ASEAN member states have intensified, with annual trading volume exceeding CHF 25 billion in recent years. Swiss companies have also invested around CHF 80 billion in South East Asia, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Under the Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN, which took effect in 2016, Switzerland is committed to promoting vocational training, disaster prevention, digitalisation and the fight against climate change. Mr Cassis' attendance at the conference highlights the importance for Switzerland of consolidating bilateral relations with South East Asian countries.

Bilateral talks on global challenges

During his stay in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Cassis took the opportunity to hold various bilateral talks. Discussions with his counterparts from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam focused primarily on economic and bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues. On the margins of the conference, he also met the new Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand for the first time to discuss climate change, the war in Ukraine and Switzerland's OSCE chairpersonship in 2026.

While he was in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Cassis also met representatives from Malaysian-based Swiss companies to discuss the country's economic situation and the opportunities presented by the free trade agreement between EFTA and Malaysia, which was signed recently in Tromsø, Norway.

Trip to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore

Following his Malaysia visit, Mr Cassis is travelling to Brunei Darussalam. This will be the first time a Federal Councillor has paid an official visit to the Sultanate since 2001. This visit on 12 July will reaffirm Switzerland's good relations with the ASEAN member state, which is transitioning towards modern, sustainable forms of economic development. In Brunei, Mr Cassis will meet the Minister of Finance and Economy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Talks will focus on bilateral relations and current regional and global challenges and issues. Mr Cassis will also be received by the head of state, Sultan and Prime Minister Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

On 13 July, before returning to Switzerland, Mr Cassis will visit the Swiss embassy in Singapore, which was completely refurbished recently.

Links

Asia G20 Strategy 2025–28

South East Asia Strategy 2023–26

Address for enquiries:

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