Switzerland and Thailand underscore opportunities offered by free trade
Berne, 15.10.2026 — President Guy Parmelin met with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok on Thursday, 15 October, during his official visit to Thailand. The talks focused on bilateral relations, the free trade agreement negotiated between the European Free Trade Association and Thailand, and current international affairs. President Parmelin will then pay a presidential visit to Vietnam and, together with the EFTA partners, sign a free trade agreement.
Switzerland and Thailand have maintained diplomatic relations for 95 years. During the talks, both sides commended the exchanges in the political, economic and civil society spheres. The community of Swiss nationals living in Thailand, numbering more than 13,000 people, is the largest in the Asia-Pacific region and 30,000 Thai nationals live in Switzerland.
The free trade agreement between EFTA and Thailand was cited as a key factor in further deepening economic relations. President Parmelin and Prime Minister Charnvirakul discussed the steps to be taken before the agreement comes into force and how best to capitalise on the opportunities it presents. Potential was identified in a range of sectors, in particular manufacturing and automation, digital technologies and infrastructure, and sustainable technologies.
With regard to cooperation between the two countries in combating climate change under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, Mr Parmelin emphasised Switzerland’s interest in investing in Thailand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The two sides also discussed the challenging international situation and its impact on the region’s stability. Other topics discussed included the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its reform process, the United Nations, and the role of Geneva as a leading hub for multilateral diplomacy. Lastly, Mr Parmelin paid tribute to Thailand’s commitment to combating online fraud networks. The reason for the president’s visit to Thailand is to attend the annual meeting of the Bretton Woods institutions, which are being held in Bangkok rather than in Washington DC, the headquarters of these institutions.
Presidential visit to Vietnam
Mr Parmelin will then travel on to Vietnam, where he will be received by President Tô Lâm in Hanoi on Saturday, 17 October, for a presidential visit. Meetings are also scheduled with Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng, the president of the National Assembly, Trần Thanh Mẫn, and other members of the government. A key focus of the visit will be the signing of the free trade agreement between the EFTA states and Vietnam on 18 October. A Swiss business delegation is accompanying the president on his visits to both Thailand and Vietnam.
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