The first stage of the visit (25–28 August) will take the delegation to the People’s Republic of China. In Beijing, Mr Caroni will attend the official ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties and participate in a series of political discussions. Scheduled engagements include a meeting with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and a courtesy visit to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Discussions will cover the full range of bilateral relations. In addition to political and economic matters, the agenda includes areas where the two countries maintain active dialogue, such as education, science, environmental protection, finance and human rights. A key topic in economic relations will be enhancing the 2014 free trade agreement between Switzerland and China, with negotiations having commenced in September last year. The two sides will also exchange views on pressing international issues, including multilateralism, global trade and security policy.
Beyond political dialogue, the programme includes meetings with representatives from the business community, civil society and international organisations. The Beijing visit will conclude with the delegation’s attendance at the Sino-Swiss Business Awards ceremony.
Switzerland and the People’s Republic of China are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2025. Since 1950, the two nations have maintained continuous dialogue encompassing economic, scientific and multilateral cooperation. Today, China is Switzerland’s third-largest trading partner globally.
The second stage of the visit (28–30 August) will take the delegation to Japan. In Tokyo, Mr Caroni will meet with Masakazu Sekiguchi, President of the House of Councillors, and participate in an exchange with the Switzerland–Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group. Discussions will focus on the long-standing bilateral relationship, cooperation in business, research and innovation, and current international challenges, particularly in geopolitics, security architecture and the global economy. Further meetings are planned with CEOs of Swiss companies operating in Japan and senior representatives of selected Japanese investors in Switzerland. The business environment in Japan and the investment climate for Japanese firms in Switzerland will be key topics.
In Osaka, the delegation will visit Expo 2025, where Switzerland will be represented by its own pavilion. The pavilion will showcase innovative solutions in life sciences, environmental protection, robotics and artificial intelligence, centred on three themes: ‘Life’, ‘Planet’ and ‘Augmented Human’. The visit will also serve to strengthen Swiss-Japanese cooperation. The programme includes a visit to Swissnex, a platform that fosters international collaboration among stakeholders in science, education, the arts and business.
Through this visit to East Asia, the Council of States delegation will engage with two strategically important countries in the region, in line with the Federal Council’s Asia G20 Strategy of 20 June 2025, which aims to deepen bilateral relations, particularly within global economic and security frameworks.
Mr Caroni will be accompanied by members of the Office of the Council of States: First Vice President Stefan Engler (The Centre, GR), Second Vice President Werner Salzmann (SVP, BE), Council of States member and teller Mathilde Crevoisier Crelier (SP, JU), and Council of States member Petra Gössi (FDP, SZ).