Mr. Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, is paying an official visit to Thailand on 15-17 October, on the occasion of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Bangkok.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul hosted an official welcome ceremony for the President of the Swiss Confederation and his delegation at Government House on 15 October, when the two leaders held discussions and a joint press conference.

The following press statement was delivered by Prime Minister Anutin at the joint press conference with the President of the Swiss Confederation.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome President Parmelin on his Official Visit to Thailand as a Guest of the Government, during the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok.

“This visit comes at a particularly meaningful time, as Thailand and Switzerland celebrate 95 years of diplomatic relations. It is also the first Official Visit to Thailand by a Swiss President in 22 years.

“Today, the President and I had a productive meeting. We reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening our longstanding friendship and advancing practical cooperation for the mutual benefit of our peoples.

“Allow me to highlight four key areas of our discussions.

“First, trade and investment cooperation.

“Switzerland was Thailand’s largest trading partner in Europe in 2025 and remained so during the first nine months of 2026, reflecting the strength of our economic ties.

“To build on this strong foundation, we discussed the importance of bringing the Thailand-EFTA Free Trade Agreement into force at the earliest opportunity, to expand trade and investment opportunities and strengthen business competitiveness.

“I am pleased that President Parmelin is accompanied by a Swiss business delegation. Thailand welcomes greater Swiss investment in high-value industries and advanced technologies, as well as closer cooperation in technology transfer and supply chain development.

“Second, Climate Cooperation and Green Transition

“Thailand and Switzerland have achieved concrete results under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

“A notable example is the Bangkok E-Bus Program, which has introduced around 2,000 electric buses, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution while improving people’s quality of life.

“Building on this successful cooperation, the KliK Foundation expects to purchase carbon credits worth approximately 120 million US dollars from new climate projects in Thailand, subject to the necessary authorizations by both governments.

“This represents an important opportunity to mobilize green finance, support new climate projects, and accelerate Thailand’s transition towards a low-carbon economy.

“Third, Science, Technology, and Innovation

“Switzerland’s strengths in research and innovation complement Thailand’s ambition to develop a more innovative and competitive economy.

“We discussed opportunities to strengthen partnerships among research institutions, universities, and businesses, particularly in joint research, technology transfer, and translating innovation into practical industrial applications.

“Finally, Education and Human Resource Development

“Thailand highly values Switzerland's expertise in technical and vocational education and training, particularly its close links between education and industry.

“We look forward to expanding cooperation in skills development, knowledge exchange, and vocational training to prepare our workforce for the industries of the future.

“Beyond these areas, we also exchanged views on regional and global situations, as well as cooperation in addressing shared challenges, including combating online scams and illicit financial flows.

“I am confident that this visit will give fresh momentum to Thai-Swiss relations and help translate our shared priorities into concrete results.

“I thank President Parmelin for his friendship and commitment to strengthening our bilateral ties. I look forward to working together to build an even stronger, more dynamic, and sustainable partnership in the years ahead."