Swiss foreign minister: Brazil relations unchanged under Bolsonaro
Cassis with the Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo during a meeting, in Brasilia, Brazil on Friday.
Keystone / Raylson Ribeiro / Ministry Of Fo
The Swiss minister for foreign affairs, Ignazio Cassis, who has wrapped up his South America trip in Brazil, says that relations with the country have not changed under its new president Jair Bolsonaro.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/FDFA/with input from Mirela Tavares in São Paulo
The focus on the Brazil part of his four-day tour – he also visited Uruguay and Chile – was economic cooperation.
Speaking during his trip, he told swissinfo.ch’s Portuguese service that he chosen to go to Brazil because it was a huge country “with great potential despite internal problems”. He hoped the two countries could improve relations even more.
He relativised the impact of the election of rightwing Bolsonaro on Swiss-Brazil relations.
“There was fundamentally no change in the bilateral relationship between Switzerland and Brazil with the new government,” he said, although there could be a bit more uncertainty because it was a major change.
At present, it was important to understand whether Switzerland could continue to collaborate on a political, economic and democratic level, including on human rights, outlined Cassis.
Also key: whether the free-trade agreement could be concluded between the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), of which Brazil is a member, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a part, he said.
Brazil is Switzerland’s largest trading partnerExternal link in Latin America and is also home to the second largest Swiss community in the region (14,124 at the end of 2017). In 1819, the first Swiss consulate overseas was opened in Rio de Janeiro. There are also two Swiss schools abroad in São Paulo and Curitiba.
More
More
Critics of Mercosur deal name conditions for support
This content was published on
A Swiss coalition says it is in favour of a free trade agreement between Switzerland and the four Mercosur countries – but not at any price.
L’Oréal acquires South Korean subsidiary of Migros’ cosmetics brand
This content was published on
French cosmetics firm L'Oréal is acquiring Gowoonsesang Cosmetics, the South Korean subsidiary of the Migros-owned Mibelle group, for an undisclosed sum.
Sharp hike in number of protected historic monuments in Switzerland
This content was published on
In 2022, there were close to 91,000 protected historic monuments in Switzerland, 21% more than in 2016, said the Federal Statistical Office.
Switzerland adopts further EU sanctions against Russia
This content was published on
Switzerland has added several dozen names to its list of sanctioned persons or entities from Russia after adopting the amendments made by the European Union.
Snowfall causes travel restrictions in much of Switzerland
This content was published on
Heavy snowfall in several regions of Switzerland caused restrictions in road and rail traffic on Monday morning, though conditions eased by the afternoon.
Swiss major-general named acting head of UN observer force in Golan Heights
This content was published on
Major-General Patrick Gauchat has been appointed acting head of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights.
Accidents up sharply among older skiers in Switzerland
This content was published on
People over the age of 40 account for more than half of all ski injuries in Switzerland, a new study by insurance firm Suva shows.
Switzerland proposes strengthening rights of people with disabilities
This content was published on
The Swiss government is proposing a package of new legislative measures to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in all areas of life.
This content was published on
The Swiss artist Kurt Laurenz Metzler, known for his colorful sculptures made of fiberglass and polyester, has died in Zurich at the age of 83.
Historic Swiss bathhouse on Lake Constance destroyed in a fire
This content was published on
In the northern Swiss town of Rorschach, the 100-year-old Badhütte (bathing hut) on the shores of Lake Constance burned down early Monday morning.
Trump picks Callista Gingrich as ambassador to Switzerland
This content was published on
Incoming United States president Donald Trump has named Callista Gingrich as the next ambassador to Switzerland. Gingrich was posted to the Vatican under Trump's previous term.
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
Swiss economics minister upbeat about Mercosur free trade deal
This content was published on
Switzerland is close to concluding a free trade agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, according to the Swiss economics minister.
Brazilian president chooses WEF for first overseas trip
This content was published on
The rightwing Bolsonaro will join US President Donald Trump and many other world leaders in Switzerland from January 21-25. The annual showpiece meeting attracts around 3,000 political and business heads plus leaders in the worlds of science, culture, civil society and religion. Bolsonaro made his announcement during his first television interview since taking office on…
Oldest Swiss school in South America gets ministerial visit
This content was published on
Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis has hailed education ties as he visited the country’s Swiss school abroad, the Colegio Suizo, in Chile.
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.