Réception à Dacca à l’occasion de la visite officielle au Bangladesh

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to spend this evening with you. And a privilege for me to visit Bangladesh.

Apparently it is the first ever official visit by a Swiss president. This can of course be explained: until the 1980s Swiss presidents didn’t pay official visits abroad.

It is surprising nevertheless given the long-standing ties between our two countries.

Switzerland was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh after the war of independence in 1971. Last year, our countries celebrated 45 years of friendship and co-operation.

For quite a while questions of development were dominant. Development remains important. But attention is increasingly shifting to trade, cultural exchanges and co-operation at international level.

The programme of my visit reflects the growing significance of the relations between our two countries. We have learned a lot about Bangladesh’s history, today’s challenges and the opportunities of the future. The last two days have been emotional and intensive.

At the beginning of my visit we paid tribute to the past: I had the honour of showing my country’s respect for Bangladesh, its history and its founder by laying floral offerings at the National Martyrs’ Monument and the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

We’re proud of the fact that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman envisioned his country as the “Switzerland of the East”. And saw our foreign policy as exemplary. “Friendship to all and malice toward none” – these are his words. And something that we all should strive for.

The focus of discussion during the official talks was on the immediate challenges. And notably today during the visit to Cox’s Bazar. At the camp at Kutupalong, I witnessed the tragedy of the families, children and elderly who have fled their homes in Myanmar.

The humanitarian crisis affecting the Rohingya population is of unprecedented scale. The crisis is putting Bangladesh and the international community under enormous strain – in the effort to provide shelter and the most urgent services to over 650,000 people.

I want to express my appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the authorities and people of Bangladesh.

Switzerland has a reputation for responding to humanitarian emergencies in a fast and pragmatic manner. We responded in this case too. Having been confronted with the reality on the ground, I was pleased to be in Kutupalong today for the handover of equipment to improve the facilities of Sadar District Hospital. This is a joint achievement resulting from the coordination with the governmental authorities.

The overall goal of Swiss development cooperation in Bangladesh is to contribute to improving the well-being of poor and disadvantaged people in Bangladesh. Let me take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the Swiss development cooperation partners, many of whom are here tonight.

As the ties between our countries have multiplied, I would like to convey warm greetings to the Swiss nationals present in Bangladesh, who are active in various professional fields.

Human rights activists and civil society have made immense contributions towards upholding civil and political rights in Bangladesh. I want to congratulate civil society representatives here tonight for their contribution to the well-being of the people of Bangladesh.

And I would also like to welcome representatives from the cultural scene.

Looking to the future, our relations have a great deal of potential in every respect. Switzerland places great value on the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law in Bangladesh.

The next national election in Bangladesh is due in late 2018 or early 2019. Switzerland hopes that it will be held in a free, fair and inclusive manner, strengthening further the democratic strides.

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 the country on these results!

In terms of Swiss investment in Bangladesh, there is certainly room for improvement. Especially considering that Switzerland is a major foreign investor worldwide. Swiss companies however have investments in some promising sectors.

And bilateral trade has almost doubled over the past seven years. Taking these developments into account, it is my firm belief that Swiss-Bangladeshi trade and investment will reach new heights in the future.

Culture is intrinsically linked to development and helps to build bridges within society and between countries. In this spirit, Switzerland and Bangladesh have regular cultural exchanges through both public and private initiatives.

I will have the opportunity to experience first-hand Bangladeshi art and culture during a visit to the Dhaka Art Summit. Which is collaborating closely with the Swiss foundation Pro Helvetia.

Before concluding, let me reiterate that Switzerland values its long-standing friendship with Bangladesh and looks forward to a continued partnership based on mutual trust and a shared vision for the future.

I am proud to be able to make my own contribution to promoting relations between Switzerland and Bangladesh through my visit. And I look forward to speaking with you personally this evening.

“Sho-bai-ke onek dhonno-baad!”