Japan-Switzerland Relations 
February 2011
History of the Bilateral Relationship
(1) Japan and Switzerland have been on friendly terms since the conclusion of the "Treaty of Amity and Trade" in 1864. Legations, which later were raised to the status of an embassy, were established in 1916 on a reciprocal basis. Switzerland represented Japan's interest toward the Allied Nations during the Second World War.
(2) Exchanges at the governmental level are active. Both countries have agreed that, starting in 1994, ad hoc political meetings should be convened between them. A meeting on economic affairs has been held regularly since 1995, while meetings on political affairs have been held three times.
(3) An emergency disaster rescue team comprising 25 people was dispatched in January 1995, together with 12 dogs specially trained for disaster relief in the wake of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. This warm offering was deeply appreciated by the Government of Japan and the Japanese people.
(4) Both countries agreed to start the negotiation for an Economic Partnership Agreement in January 2007, and held the first negotiation in May in Tokyo.
Number of Residents
- Japanese Nationals residing in Switzerland: 6,887 (October 2005)
- Swiss Nationals residing in Japan: 1,406 (August 2005)
Economic Relations
- Exports: 237.7 billion yen (automobiles, digital cameras, etc.)
- Imports: 557.1 billion yen (watches, pharmaceutical products, etc.)
- Direct Investment from Japan: 102.1 billion yen ('05)
- Direct Investment from Switzerland: 265.9 billion yen ('05)
VIP Visits
- From Japan to Switzerland
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Year Name 1994 Speaker of the House of Representatives Ms. Takako Doi
Director-General of the Science and Technology Agency Ms. Makiko Tanaka1995 Minister of Education Mr. Kaoru Yosano 1996 Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Takamado 1998 Keidanren Mission 1999 Minister of International Trade and Industry Mr. Takashi Fukaya 2000 Their Majesties Emperor and Empress 2001 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mr. Yoshio Yatsu
Minister of State for Administrative Reform, Regulatory Reform, and former Prime Minister Mr. Ryutaro Hashimoto
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori2005 Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Mr. Shouichi Nakagawa
Cultural Exchanges
Japanese traditional culture, the performing arts and sports are drawing people's attention in Switzerland at an increasing scale. Some events,including the "Japan Week" in Geneva, have been held.
- Second Meeting of the Joint Committee established under the Free Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (FTEPA) between Japan and Switzerland (February 10, 2011)
- First Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Rules of Origin, Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation established under the Free Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (FTEPA) between Japan and Switzerland (February 9, 2011)
- First Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Promotion of a Closer Economic Relationship established under the Agreement on Free Trade and Economic Partnership between Japan and Switzerland (June 1, 2010)
- Memorandum between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of Japan concerning the Exchange of Young Professional [PDF]
- Japan-Switzerland Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
- Entry into Force of the Protocol amending the Convention between Japan and Switzerland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income (December 2011)
- Agreement between Japan and the Swiss Confederation on Social Security (October 2010)
- Protocol Amending the Convention between Japan and Switzerland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income (May 2010)
- Visit to Geneva and New York by Ms. Chinami Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (March 2010)
- First Round of Official Negotiations for the Revision of the Convention between Japan and Switzerland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income (November 2008)
- Exchange of Notes concerning the sharing between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Swiss Confederation of the confiscated assets in the case of money laundering (April 2008)
- Visit to Japan by Mr. Pascal Couchepin, Vice President and Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs of Switzerland (July 2007)
- Mr. Masayoshi Hamada, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit Geneva, Switzerland (March 2007)
- Mr. Masayoshi Hamada, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit Paris and Geneva (February 2007)
- Mr. Katsuhito Asano, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit Geneva (November 2006)
- Prof. Akiko Yamanaka, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit Geneva (June 2006)
- Mr. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to visit Switzerland and the United Kingdom (March 2006)
- Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to visit Switzerland, Kenya and Rwanda (October 2005)
- Japan-Switzerland Summit Meeting (Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet Official Web Site) (October 2004)
- Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit European Countries and Attend the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference (September 2003)
- Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan's Visit to Europe (May 2000)
(Open a New Window)- Embassy of Japan in Switzerland Web Site
- Embassy of Switzerland in Tokyo Web Site
- Consulate General of Japan in Geneva Web Site
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