By Kayla Lee

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is in New York for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held his first summit meeting with Swiss President Alain Berset on the morning of September 20.

During the meeting, President Yoon requested Switzerland's support for the 2030 Busan World Expo and exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations.

President Yoon said he was pleased to hold bilateral talks with Switzerland this year, which marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 70th anniversary of Switzerland's participation in the Neutrality Commission on the Korean Peninsula. 

He also expressed his pleasure that Switzerland, which shares the universal values of liberal democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, will serve as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 2024 and looks forward to working closely together on key issues, including the North Korean nuclear issue.

Noting that President Yoon had visited the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in January on the occasion of his attendance at the Davos Forum, where he spoke with a quantum scientist, President Berset expressed his hope to further expand cooperation in cutting-edge fields such as quantum technology and biopharmaceuticals. He also expressed sympathy for the close cooperation between the two countries on various international issues.

The two leaders used the meeting as an opportunity to further enhance bilateral exchanges and continue to identify cooperative projects that will benefit the two economies.