RIYADH: The Embassy of Switzerland hosted a National Day reception in Riyadh on Wednesday, marking the 734th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation.
Ambassador of Switzerland to Saudi Arabia Yasmine Chatila Zwahlen said: “In 1291, three Alpine cantons made a treaty, an alliance for cooperation and mutual defense against foreign powers, who luckily all happened to be our best friends today.”
The ambassador underscored the strong and enduring ties between Switzerland and the Kingdom, which led to the launch of the first Saudi-Swiss Hospitality Forum in Diriyah.
“Your presence testifies to the depth of our relations and the bonds of friendship between the governments and people of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.
“The partnership between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia is based on mutual respect, shared interests, and the spirit of innovation,” she said.
Zwahlen highlighted Switzerland’s support for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, particularly in hospitality and education.
“Tonight, I want to shed light on one particular sector. I would like to highlight the sector that is at the heart of Vision 2030 and in which Switzerland happens to be a world leader. It is the hospitality industry and hospitality education,” she said.
She noted recent joint initiatives, including the launch of the Swiss Hospitality Network in Saudi Arabia, a platform for collaboration between stakeholders from the two nations.
Zwahlen also announced the launch of the first-ever Saudi-Swiss Hospitality Forum, set to take place in Bab Samhan in Diriyah on Wednesday, which is designed to accelerate and deepen cooperation.
The forum aims to strengthen ties between Swiss hospitality schools and Saudi entities in human capital development, hospitality education, and cultural excellence, within the framework of Vision 2030.
“Saudi Arabia continues its inspiring journey of rapid reform.
“Swiss partners are proudly accompanying these endeavors in areas like transport, education, culture, hospitality, hospitality training, health, clean technology, FinTech, industrial development, and many other sectors,” Zwahlen said.
On global affairs, she commended the Kingdom for promoting peace through international solutions and dialogue. “When we gathered here in 2023 and 2024, we reflected together on the suffering caused by conflicts in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Sudan, and beyond.”
“Allow me now to acknowledge and express my appreciation for the Saudi leadership’s role in co-facilitating the UN conference on the two-state solution and everything which follows.
“Switzerland, on our side, supports the New York Declaration and its implementation, with the hope of restoring a political perspective grounded in international law and the two-state vision,” she added.
During the reception, the ambassador praised the two event moderators and the youngest members of her team, from Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, as examples of close cooperation, expressing pride in the future generation of diplomats.
In her closing remarks, she said: “Long live Saudi Arabia, long live Switzerland, and long live the Saudi-Swiss friendship.”
The celebration was attended by high-level officials and diplomats, including Faisal Al-Sudairy, undersecretary of the Riyadh region, who represented Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar.
