Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis shared the news on Twitter, saying that it was a “significant step on the occasion of our countries’ diamond jubilee”, referring to the two countries marking 60 years of diplomatic relations this year. His Australian counterpart, Marise Payne, said that Australia looked forward to opening an embassy in Bern.
The Australian embassy in Bern was closed down in 1992 for cost reasons. Since then, Switzerland has been represented by the embassy in the German capital Berlin. Australia also has a Consulate-General in GenevaExternal link.
The reopening of the Australian embassy shows how serious the relations between Bern and Canberra are, said the Swiss ambassador to AustraliaExternal link, Pedro Zwahlen.
There are currently 250 Swiss companies in Australia, and bilateral trade is worth around CHF5 billion a year ($5.5 billion). Switzerland exports watches, pharmaceuticals and precision technology to Australia, whereas Australia exports gold, medicines, meat and silver to Switzerland.
In normal times, more than 40,000 Swiss tourists travel to Australia a year.
Unusual, but significant
According to SRF’s diplomatic correspondent Fredy Gsteiger, the move to reopen an embassy is an unusual one.
“More frequent than new embassy openings are embassy closures or mergers. Usually, the aim is to save costs. The fact that Australia is now opening a new embassy in Bern shows that relations between Bern and Canberra have become more intensive – and not only economically,” Gsteiger said.
In addition: “Australia wants to network better with other countries in Europe”. It’s also in Switzerland’s interest to have as many countries represented as possible in Bern, as direct diplomatic contact is important, added Gsteiger.
Popular Stories
More
Multinational companies
Azeri fossil-fuel cash cow brings controversy to Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland tops expat ranking for third time
This content was published on
The Alpine nation is again top for expatriates in British bank HSBC’s annual expat survey, thanks in part to its high quality of life.
This content was published on
After years of dispute, the Australian parliament recently passed the same-sex marriage bill. But the Australian people themselves paved the way.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.