The Swiss National Council on Wednesday passed a motion calling on the nation to sign an agreement with Taiwan to deepen collaboration in science, technology, innovation and culture.
The lower house of Switzerland’s parliament deliberated and adopted the bill submitted in 2022 by former Swiss national councilor Mustafa Atici in a vote of 96 in favor, 86 against and nine abstentions.
The bill aims to encourage and boost friendly relations between Taiwan and Switzerland, as well as deepen collaboration.
Photo: AP
It calls for a partnership agreement to be signed by the Trade Office of Swiss Industries in Taipei and the Cultural and Economic Delegation of Taipei in Switzerland.
In addition to collaboration between universities and research institutions in the two nations, a “solid institutional framework, in the form of an institutionalized partnership” is necessary to unlock the full potential that exists between the two sides in the interest of both parties, it says.
Deepening the relationship with Taiwan “can contribute to greater peace and stability in the world,” as “science diplomacy can help us meet the challenges of the 21st century,” the bill says.
It underlines the importance of developing the Swiss global network, in which “Taiwan has the potential to become one of the new major sites.”
Taiwan and Switzerland are “highly innovative, open economies that have a lot to offer,” especially in technology and research, said Swiss National Councilor Fabian Molina, who has taken over Atici’s motion after he lost his re-election bid in October last year.
The bill would help diversify Switzerland’s trade relations in Asia, improve the country’s economic and political relationship with Taiwan, and boost cooperation between democracies, Molina said.
However, Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin said that existing exchanges between Swiss and Taiwanese universities and institutions, as well as Swiss scholarship and subsidy programs, already “make it possible to achieve the objectives set” as he asked for the bill to be rejected.
The bill is to be sent to the Swiss Council of States, the upper house, for deliberation and voting.
Separately, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a bill to reaffirm the US state’s commitment to ties with and support for Taiwan.
Taiwan shares the values of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace and prosperity with the US and Wisconsin, the bill says.
It urges Wisconsin to support the signing of a trade agreement between Taiwan and the US, as it is “an important step toward further strengthening bilateral trade” between the two sides by stimulating bilateral investment and collaboration through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation measures.
Wisconsin should also continue to back Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and “Taiwan’s aspiration to make more contributions in international societies,” it says.
Taiwan is capable of and willing to “collaborate with the world to face challenges such as humanitarian aid and disease control,” it says.
The bill was introduced in the State Assembly on Feb. 16, adopted on Thursday last week and sent to the Senate Organization Committee of the Wisconsin State Senate on Monday.
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