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President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening trade and diplomatic relations with Switzerland. This follows his official talks with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter in Bern – part of his two-day State Visit to the European nation. The visit marks a historic milestone – the first State Visit by a democratic South African President to Switzerland – and is expected to deepen cooperation in trade, youth development, and peace mediation. It was a day steeped in ceremony and symbolism in the Swiss capital, Bern, as President Ramaphosa addressed members of the Federal Assembly, highlighting the shared values of peace, democracy, and development that underpin relations between South Africa and Switzerland. “This act of repatriation speaks to who we are – both Switzerland and South Africa. It speaks to our shared belief that dialogue can heal what conflict has broken, and that the dignity of every human being transcends borders and time,” says Ramaphosa. The President’s remarks followed Switzerland’s handover of sacred artefacts belonging to South Africa’s Nkuna royal family – a gesture he described as a bridge between history, reconciliation, and mutual respect. Later, Ramaphosa and his Swiss counterpart, Karin Keller-Sutter, held bilateral talks focused on trade, investment, and global peace efforts. Trade relations featured prominently, with both countries seeking to expand market access and reduce barriers to commerce. “But more importantly, what these tariff impositions have done is to make us want to diversify our trade reach… We’ve just returned from Southeast Asia… and we expect that we will be able to raise the trade dealings with Switzerland to a higher level as well, following on this very successful state visit.” Ramaphosa describes the tariffs as both a challenge and an opportunity – opening new pathways for trade diversification and collaboration with key partners such as Switzerland. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter praises the progress of bilateral cooperation and reaffirms her country’s support for South Africa’s economic and democratic development. Keller-Sutter says, “This visit underscores the friendship and trust between our two nations. We are committed to working together in areas such as peace mediation, education, and sustainable trade that benefit both our people.” The two countries signed new cooperation agreements in arts, culture, and heritage, as well as in peace mediation and democracy resilience – agreements that both leaders say will deepen ties beyond diplomacy. For President Ramaphosa, the visit represents more than symbolic friendship – it’s a renewed commitment to multilateralism, shared prosperity, and the spirit of partnership between Africa and Europe.
