Dacca
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Discours prononcé en anglais. Texte original, non traduit.
Prime Minister,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to be here with you today.
Relations between our countries are good and they have a long tradition. For more than four decades, Switzerland has been a strong and committed development and trade partner of Bangladesh.
It’s a privilege for me to visit your country. It is the first official visit at presidential level between Switzerland and Bangladesh. With this visit Switzerland wants to show its support and solidarity for Bangladesh during the Rohingya crisis. And we are seeking to strengthen our bilateral relations.
The situation of the Rohingya refugees is of great concern to my country. I will visit Cox’s Bazar tomorrow.
Switzerland commends your Government and the people of Bangladesh for the solidarity, assistance and protection offered to the Rohingyas.
Switzerland has a long humanitarian tradition. We support people and countries in need, wherever they are. All actions are need-based and follow the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and humanity.
Switzerland pledged eight million Swiss francs at the conference in Geneva in October for emergency humanitarian aid for the Rohingya refugees in the country. I can today announce that this year Switzerland will provide an additional twelve million francs for the Rohingya refugees.
The agreement on repatriation between Bangladesh and Myanmar is a positive step towards a solution of the current crisis. It will be important that all returns are voluntary and safe. And carried out in dignity.
Switzerland also calls for the full implementation of the report of the Advisory Commission chaired by Kofi Annan.
The bilateral relations between our countries are good. For the future, Switzerland sees a strong potential in different areas, notably in trade, development cooperation, cultural exchanges and climate change.
We recognise Bangladesh’s efforts in further strengthening democracy and the rule of law. This is instrumental for deepening our bilateral political and economic relations.
Thanks to its continually high rates of economic growth and its impressive achievements in poverty reduction, Bangladesh is approaching the status of a middle-income nation. I congratulate you on these results! We also welcome efforts in improving the business climate and legal security.
Bilateral trade between our countries has almost doubled over the past seven years. It is my firm belief that Swiss-Bangladeshi trade and investment will reach new heights in the future.
Our countries also share a long and close partnership in development cooperation, since 1976.
Switzerland is very much interested in continuing this path with the Government of Bangladesh, the private sector and civil society organisations. A particular focus in the next couple of years will be on social inclusion, economic development, governance and safe migration.
Culture is strongly linked to development and it helps to build bridges.
In this spirit, Switzerland and Bangladesh have regular cultural exchanges.
I will have the opportunity to experience first-hand Bangladeshi art and culture during a visit to the Dhaka Art Summit, which is collaborating with the Swiss foundation Pro Helvetia.
Another important topic of our talk was the cooperation between Switzerland and Bangladesh on multilateral issues.
One such issue is climate change.
For the proper implementation of the Paris Agreement, we need a robust rule book, to be adopted by the end of this year.
Switzerland counts on Bangladesh as a partner in the negotiations.
Switzerland values its long-standing friendship with Bangladesh.
We look forward to a continued partnership, based on mutual trust and a shared vision for the future.
This visit is a contribution to promoting relations between Switzerland and Bangladesh.
Thank you!