Japan, the first stop on the trip, is one of Switzerland's long-standing strategic partners in Asia, notably in the fields of trade, research and innovation. On 22 April Mr Cassis will officially open Swiss Day at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, alongside a delegation of representatives from the Swiss scientific and business communities.

On 23 April Mr Cassis will hold talks in Tokyo with the Japanese foreign minister, Takeshi Iwaya, focusing on key international issues such as the war in Ukraine, security developments in Asia, and Japan and Switzerland's joint efforts to promote effective multilateralism and global governance. Official meetings with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will further strengthen collaboration on trade and innovation.

75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with China

Switzerland is celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China this year. It was one of the first Western countries to recognise the People's Republic of China in 1950. Mr Cassis will meet the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, on 24 April in Beijing.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to exchange views on current geopolitical events and to review some 20 bilateral dialogues and international issues of common interest. Mr Cassis will also be attending the China International Machine Tool Show (CIMT) in Beijing, where he will meet with the heads of Swiss machine tool companies.

The visit will conclude in Shanghai on 25 April with a visit to Schindler, a company that played a pioneering role in the development of economic relations between Switzerland and China. Mr Cassis will also use his time in Beijing to meet with representatives of the Swiss community.