President Yoon Arrives in Switzerland... Begins Schedule Including Davos Forum

Arrived in Zurich after UAE schedule... Special speech and more planned

[Zurich=Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is on a tour of two countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland, arrived in Switzerland on the afternoon of the 17th (local time). He is scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, known as the Davos Forum, for two days from the 18th to the 19th. His itinerary includes various diplomatic engagements in the fields of economic security, sales, and public sectors, such as attracting investments from global companies, promoting the bid for the 2030 Busan Expo, and dialogues with scholars in science and technology.

On the same afternoon, President Yoon arrived at Zurich Airport in Switzerland, his second destination, aboard the 'Air Force One' presidential aircraft.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee arrived at Zurich International Airport on the afternoon of the 17th (local time) after completing their state visit to the UAE to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They disembarked from Air Force One and greeted and shook hands with welcoming officials.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the Presidential Office, President Yoon will begin sales diplomacy from the first schedule of the Davos Forum on the 18th. First, a luncheon meeting with CEOs of major domestic and international global companies is planned. Attendees from Korea include Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK; Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor; Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG; Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte; and Kim Dong-kwan, Vice Chairman of Hanwha. From overseas, CEOs of prominent global companies such as Intel, IBM, Qualcomm, and JP Morgan are expected to attend.

At the following 'Korea Night' event, a tailored international cooperation program called the 'Busan Initiative' will be introduced to influential figures gathered in Davos to support the bid for the 2030 Busan Expo, along with promotion of Korean culture. On the 19th, President Yoon is scheduled to deliver a special speech on the direction of international cooperation to overcome the global economic crisis.

Additionally, a visit to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) is arranged to exchange views with scholars on quantum technology. ETH Zurich is one of Europe's top three physics research institutions, having produced world-renowned scientists such as Albert Einstein. A Presidential Office official stated, "Quantum technology, which can dramatically increase computational speed compared to supercomputers, is a game changer that brings innovation to all industries and security. Competition to secure this technology is accelerating among the United States, the European Union (EU), Japan, and China." The official added, "Through this visit, we will exchange opinions on the success factors that enabled Switzerland to become a quantum technology powerhouse and the strategies that our country, as a latecomer, should adopt, as well as establish a human network between scientists of both countries."

The possibility of bilateral talks between heads of state at the Davos Forum is low. A Presidential Office official said, "This is not a venue for bilateral or multilateral summits," adding, "There may be natural, casual encounters and conversations. Meetings will occur in a very natural atmosphere."