First WEF day ends with three top-level meetings
Published: Monday, Jan 15th 2024, 22:20
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The first day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos ended with three top-level meetings between President Viola Amherd and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen.
This day will probably go down as a highlight in the history of her term of office, said Amherd on Monday evening in Davos after her talks with Von der Leyen. The talks with Selenskyj and Li Qiang took place in Bern.
President Amherd agreed to organize a "high-profile peace summit" for Ukraine. According to Amherd, preparations will begin as early as Tuesday. Furthermore, Economics Minister Guy Parmelin signed a joint declaration with Li Qiang on the free trade agreement between Switzerland and China.
Two and a half hours later in Davos
The meeting with Selensky ended shortly after 6 p.m. in Bern. At 8.30 pm, Amherd shook Von der Leyen's hand in a hotel in Davos.
At the top-level meeting between Amherd and Von der Leyen, the two ministers reaffirmed the swift start of negotiations between Switzerland and the EU. They also want to call each other directly if necessary, as Amherd said in Davos. No fixed deadlines have been set for when a package of agreements should be negotiated. However, the aim is to use the "ideal time window" in 2024 before the European elections, it was said.
©Keystone/SDA
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