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Switzerland participates actively in China’s economic growth, interview (3) |
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16:23, July 06, 2007 |
In view of the Summer Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and Expo 2010, Switzerland will intensify its dialogue with China in the fields of culture, business, science and education by implementing a comprehensive and clearly branded Public Relations campaign that runs from 2007 until 2011. It includes the House of Switzerland, which will be open to the Chinese and international public during the Olympic Games and the Swiss Pavilion at the Expo 2010 in Shanghai. There, Switzerland aims to present itself as a modern and innovative country, reflecting the 2010 Shanghai Expo theme “Better City, Better Life”. Switzerland was the first country to exhibit a model and a blue print of its pavilion at Shanghai Expo.
Editor: With EU accession rejected by two consecutive referendums, how do you envision the relationship between Switzerland and the EU?
President: With the exception of Liechtenstein, all our neighbouring countries are EU-members. As a result of this geographical and cultural proximity, Switzerland has very close and strong links to the EU and its 27 member states. Switzerland is among the latter’s four most important trading partners along with the USA, China and Russia. Around 400,000 Swiss nationals currently live in the EU, while some 900,000 EU citizens reside in Switzerland, comprising more than 12 percent of our population.
Editor: Do you believe in the need for further closer ties, and do people agree?
President: Cooperation between Switzerland and the EU takes the form of bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU in specific areas. As well as creating the conditions for mutual access to each other''s markets, these agreements serve as the basis for close cooperation in areas such as research, security, asylum policy, culture and the environment. This bilateral approach has been the foundation stone for Switzerland''s policy of openness and cooperation with its European neighbours for many years. The Swiss people are supporting the “bilateral path”, as we call it. In a number of popular referendums, the people have endorsed it every stop on the way. The government intends to pursue this approach as there are many fields of common interest between Switzerland and the EU.
Editor: How can the Swiss tradition of neutrality and peace-loving contribute to the new world order in formation?
President: We truly live in a new era, the era of globalization. A lot of the challenges we are confronted with as a country originate from outside of our borders. This is the case for example with rapidly spreading epidemics, environmental hazards like global warming, or with migratory movements resulting from civil conflicts in far away places, not to mention terrorism. Those challenges cannot be met by national measures alone. Countries need to cooperate, bilaterally and – very importantly – on the multilateral level. We need to find common ground on those challenges. And we need to act in order to prevent conflict or to remove the causes of existing conflicts. As a neutral country, Switzerland has a lot to offer to this global effort. We never were a colonial power. We do not have any hidden agenda. We do not take sides, but we talk to all sides. Not being a member of any alliance, we are not engaging in power politics. We are ready to be helpful by offering good offices, by strengthening international law, particularly international humanitarian law, and by supporting mediation processes if partners so wish.
Editor: In the eyes of most Chinese, Switzerland is a rich welfare state with relaxing life style. What do you consider as the biggest challenge to your country and your "welfare paradise" under the current trend of globalization?
President: I think the biggest challenge for Switzerland in an ever more globalized world is for its economy to remain competitive. This means that Switzerland must remain on the international forefront in research and innovation. Therefore, the continued strengthening of our educational system and of our universities is an absolute priority. Globalization does not mean the end of socially responsible economic policies. On the contrary, I am convinced that sustainable economic growth is only possible in the long term if its benefits are available to everybody in society and if no one is left behind.
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