The Swiss Confederation is called "Switzerland" for short.capitalberne, onEuropeCentral, North andGermanyBordering to the eastAustriaandLiechtenstein, southItaly, westFrance。It is located in the north temperate zone, with four distinct seasons. The country is high and steep, lacking in mineral resources, and rich in forest and water resources, with a total area of 41284 square kilometers. The country is composed of 26 states (six of which are half states).By 2021, the total population will be 8.738 million, mainly Swiss, of which the foreign population will account for 26.5%. German, French, Italian and Latin Romance are the official languages, and the residents mainly believe in Catholicism and Protestantism.[4]
The territory of Switzerland was a Celtic activity area in prehistory.On August 1, 1291, Uli, Schweitz and Lower Walden secretly formed a permanent alliance in the struggle against the Habsburg Dynasty, which was the beginning of the founding of Switzerland.In 1815, the Vienna Conference confirmed that SwitzerlandPermanent neutrality。In 1848, the Constitution was formulated and the Federal Council was established, which became unifiedFederalism。He remained neutral in both world wars.[4]In 2022, Switzerland announced that it would participate in the EU's sanctions plan against Russia, breaking its tradition of political neutrality.[7]
Switzerland is a highly developed industrial country with a free economic policy. It is one of the richest countries in the world,Global Innovation IndexIt ranks first and is known as "the heart of Europe", "the world garden", "the clock kingdom", "the country of finance", "the European water tower", etc.It is the headquarters or offices of many international organizations and the host country of international conferencesthe United Nations、World Trade Organization、World Health Organization、international olympic committee、the international red cross45 international organizations to set up headquarters or offices in Switzerland.At the same time, Switzerland belongs to the United NationsEuropean CommissionAnd other international and regional organizations.[5]In 2021, the GDP of Switzerland will be 731.6 billion Swiss francs, and the per capita GDP will be 84055 Swiss francs.[4]
The territory of Switzerland was the activity area of Celts in prehistory,CeltsThey were once indigenous people in central Europe. Their tribes expanded to today's France, Belgium, northern Italy, Spain and the Rhine Valley in the 2nd century BC. In their heyday, they also successfully captured the city of Rome.
In 58 BC, Switzerland was conquered by Caesar's army and ruled by the Roman Empire for 400 years.
From the 3rd to the 7th century AD, the German tribe Alemanni invaded and settled in the eastern and northern parts of Switzerland, which became the German speaking areas of Switzerland later;Burgundians invaded the west, which became the French speaking area of Switzerland.
In 774, all Swiss territory was incorporated into the Frankish Kingdom.
From the 11th century, Burgundy to the east of the Jura Mountains, the Principality of Alemanni and the area south of the Alps were all under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire.Since then, the Swiss territory has been divided into many independent and semi independent earls, feudal lords and noble republics.The Zelingen, Kibbutz, Sava and Habsburg families competed for power and profit in Switzerland, and finally the Habsburg family became the largest feudal lord in Switzerland.
On August 1, 1291, Uli, Schweitz and Lower Walden secretly formed a permanent alliance in the struggle against the Habsburg Dynasty, which was the beginning of the founding of Switzerland.
In 1648, France and Sweden defeated the Holy Roman Empire and forced it to seek peace in October of that year, signing the Peace Treaty of Westphalia, making Switzerland truly independent and becoming a sovereign country.
In 1798, Napoleon invaded Switzerland and established the Republic of Helveti.
In 1803, Switzerland expelled the French army from the country, expanded to 19 states, and restored the federation.
In 1815, Vale, Neuchatel and Geneva joined Switzerland.In the same year, Switzerland signed a new federal treaty, which restored the sovereignty of every state except for foreign affairs.In the same year, the Vienna Conference confirmed that SwitzerlandPermanent neutrality。
In 1848, Switzerland formulated the Constitution and set up the Federal Council, becoming a unified federal country.Switzerland remained neutral in both world wars.[5]
geographical environment
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Regional location
Switzerland's position in Europe
Switzerland is located in central Europe, bordering Germany in the north, Austria and Liechtenstein in the east, Italy in the south and France in the west.Its territory starts from 10 ° 29 ′ 26 ″ east longitudeGraubindenShavaraz Peak of, west to Shangxi Town of Geneva at 5 ° 57 ′ 24 ″ east longitude, the southernmost end is located at 45 ° 49 ′ 8 ″ north latitude, close toTicinoThe northernmost Kiasso is 47 ° 48 ′ 35 ″ north latitude, which is Bargen in Shaffhausen State.The total area is 41284 square kilometers, 220.1 kilometers from north to south, and 348.4 kilometers from east to west.[4]
Switzerland
topographic features
Swiss topographic map
Switzerland is a country with high terrain. The Jura Mountains in the northwest, the plains in the middle and the Alps in the south form three natural terrain regions.The main trunk line connecting northern and southern Europe passes through SwitzerlandThe Alps。The lowest point is located in Ascona, 196 meters above sea level, and the highest point is Dufour Peak, 4634 meters above sea level.[5]
climate
Switzerland is located in the north temperate zone, and is affected by the alternating marine climate and continental climate. It has four distinct seasons and a large climate change, with an annual average temperature of 9 ℃.Ticino State in the south has a hot Mediterranean climate, while other regions have a central European climate. The temperature is 20 ℃ - 25 ℃ in summer, 2 ℃ - 6 ℃ in winter, and 7 ℃ - 14 ℃ in spring and autumn.In addition to the temperature difference, the rainfall is also different.The rainfall in Stalden of Valai State is only 52 mm per year.The Monte Rosa peak, 40 kilometers away from Stalden, has an annual precipitation of 400 mm.In Switzerland, you can see completely different scenery and climate conditions within several thousand meters.[5]
natural resources
Switzerland is short of mineral resources, with only a few salt mines, coal mines, iron ores and manganese ores.The energy and industrial raw materials needed for production and life are mainly imported.The forest area is 1.271 million hectares, and the forest coverage rate is 29.3% (2019).Abundant water resources, with a utilization rate of 95%.Switzerland's freshwater resources account for 6% of Europe's total.Three major rivers in Europe,Rhine、RhoneandYinheAll originated in Switzerland.[5]
administrative division
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Administrative divisions of Switzerland
Switzerland's administrative regions are divided into three levels, namely, federal, state and municipal.The country is composed of 26 states (six of which are semi states): Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Uri, Schweitz, Upper Walden (semi state), Lower Walden (semi state), Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Sorotoun, Basel City (semi state), Basel Township (semi state), Shaffhausen, Outer Apenzel (semi state), Inner Apenzel (semi state)Saint Gallen, Graubindon, Argao, Turgao, Ticino, Vochow, Valle, Nashatel, Geneva, Jura.[4]
berneIt is the capital and administrative center of Switzerland, as well as a cultural and tourist city.The urban population is 144400 (data resources: Berne official website)[1][15]The Swiss Federal Government, Parliament, the Swiss National Bank, embassies and some international institutions all gathered here.Bern has the largest shopping area with medieval characteristics in Europe. As one of the best preserved medieval ancient cities in Europe, the old city is the first batch of world cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.
The city of Bern was built in the 12th century, and was completed in the 18th century. Some of the original wooden buildings in the old city of Bern were destroyed by many fires in the Middle Ages. Later, they were rebuilt into stone structures, which are still intact.The carriageway is paved with rubble. On both sides of the street are the long arches connected with each other. The ancient houses with red tiles and white walls, the fountain columns in the middle of the street with allusions, the clock tower in the 16th century and the late Gothic cathedral built in 1421 make Bern look antique and retain the style of the Middle Ages.
Zurich Scenery
ZurichIt is the largest city in Switzerland, the economic capital of Switzerland, and the center of industry, commerce, science and culture. Since it has the headquarters of more than 120 banks around the world, more than half of which are foreign banks, it is also known as the "European Billionaire City".UBS、Credit Suisse、Zurich Financial Services And many European private banks are headquartered in Zurich.The efficient and strict confidentiality of the Swiss banking industry has made Zurich a major offshore banking center in the world. The account circulation in the financial sector accounts for about a quarter of the economic activities in Zurich.The headquarters of the Swiss Stock Exchange is located in Zurich,The trading volume of Zurich Stock Exchange is the largest among Western European exchanges.Zurich is also one of the world's largest gold trading markets and an important financial center in Western Europe.
Zurich is an important transportation hub in Switzerland,Zurich International AirportIt is the largest international airport in Switzerland and one of the major aviation hubs in Europe.Zurich Railway StationIt is the largest railway station in Switzerland.Zurich is also one of the cultural, educational and scientific research centers in Switzerland,Federal University of Technology Zurich、University of ZurichIt is a world-renowned institution of higher learning.
Scenery of Geneva
GenevaIt is the second largest city in Switzerland, the capital of clocks and watches in the world, and an important world commodity trading center.It is one of the most important international cooperation centers in the world.There are 39 international organization headquarters in Geneva. Every year, more than 4700 heads of state and government, ministers and other senior officials go to attend the conference. Geneva holds more than 3400 conferences every year, and 182000 representatives from all over the world attend the conference.In addition, nearly 750 non-governmental organizations were established in Geneva.
Geneva is especially famous as the seat of international organizations and the city of international conferences. It is also called the United Nations City along with New York and Vienna.The international institutions in Geneva are roughly divided into three categories: first, United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, etc;Second, intergovernmental institutions, such as the European Nuclear Research Center, the European Free Trade Association, etc;Third, non-governmental organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee, the Inter Parliamentary Union, the International Federation for the Defence of Children, the International Red Cross, etc.The famous Palais des Nations, formerly the seat of the League of Nations, is now the headquarters of the United Nations in Europe and has become one of the important centers of multilateral diplomatic activities. Many major international conferences on international disarmament, trade, labor, health, meteorology, telecommunications, human rights and other issues related to world peace, economic development and social progress are held here.Nearly 130 countries have permanent representatives to the United Nations and other international organizations.In 1954, China established its Consulate General in Geneva, and in 1972, it became a permanent mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other international organizations.
Scenery of Basel
Basel It is the center of Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industry, especially the world famous pharmaceutical companiesNovartisAnd Hoffman·Roche Group The leading Swiss pharmaceutical companies are headquartered in Basel.The headquarters of the Bank for International Settlements and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development are located in Basel.The famous World Watch&Jewelry Exhibition and International Pharmaceutical Exhibition are held in Basel every year.
Lausanne Scenery
Lausanne It is the fifth largest city in Switzerland and the capital of Voss.The economic and political center of western Switzerland is second only to Geneva, and the cultural center of the French speaking area of Switzerland.Lausanne isinternational olympic committeeThe location of the headquarters and the Olympic Museum is known as the "Olympic City", where various liberal arts and science colleges, organizations and art schools such as the Swiss Federal Court, the Lausanne International School of Management, the University of Lausanne, the Federal Institute of Technology, the World Hotel Training Center are located.
Lucerne Scenery
Lucerne It is one of the largest summer resorts in Switzerland and the economic and cultural center of central Switzerland.The most important economic foundation of Lucerne is tourism and various service industries, such as transportation, medical care and enterprise consulting.Lucerne is also a museum city.[5]
National symbol
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Country name
Switzerland (English: Switzerland; French: Suisse)Alemannimiddle fingerSchweitzThe area is one of the first three states to establish the old Swiss Confederation.Switcher comes from a foreign language, and refers to the whole Confederation in this area.Swiss since 1499Swabian War Later, he called himself Schwyzer and often used it with the "Eidgenossen".
SwitzerlandNew LatinThe full name of "Confederatio Helvetica" was gradually adopted after it became a federal country in 1848.NapoleonThe Republic was named after Helveti in 1879CoinIt can also be seen in the Federal Palace, which was completed in 1902, and has been engraved on the Swiss official seal since 1948.Helvetica comes fromImperium RomanumFormerly established to live on the Swiss PlateauHelveti（Helvetii）。Helvetia first appeared in Johann Caspar Weisse.
national flag
Swiss flag
Swiss flagIt is square.The bottom of the flag is red with a white cross in the middle.There are different opinions about the origin of the Swiss flag pattern, including four representative ones.By 1848, Switzerland had formulated a new federal constitution, which officially stipulated that the white cross flag on a red background wasSwiss Federal Flag。White symbolizes peace, justice and light, while red symbolizes struggle and patriotism;The whole set of patterns of the national flag symbolizes the unity of the country.
This national flag was revised in 1889, changing the original red background white cross horizontal rectangle into a square, symbolizing the country's fair and neutral foreign policy.[2]
national emblem
Swiss National Emblem
Swiss National EmblembyCoat of arms。The design and color are the same as the national flag.The Swiss National Emblem is a coat of arms with a white cross on a red background, which has the same meaning as the national flag.The origin of the Swiss flag is sacredImperium RomanumGiven by Emperor Frederick IISchwitzMan is the flag of freedom.
army emblem
The Swiss military emblem is a deformation of the Swiss national emblem. It was born in 1858 and has been used since then.The Swiss military emblem is used in the navy, army, air force and marines.The uniforms of soldiers and officers are printed with Swiss military insignia.
In addition, the Swiss army knife and soldier knife are both printed with the Swiss military emblem, but the current Swiss soldiers and officers do not use soldier knives but officer knives. Different troops use different types of officer knives.In addition, all the military units, military academies and military departments have Swiss military badges on their badges.
national anthem
Swiss Psalm It is the national anthem of Switzerland, originally in French, written by Leonhard Widmer, and composed by the monk Albert Zweizixi. Zweizixi only found a suitable tune from his Mass in B major composed in 1835, and sang it for the first time at the Zurich Music Festival on November 22, 1841. It was popular, and was designated as the national anthem in 1961.
Main idea of lyrics: Motherland, please call us, we will sacrifice ourselves!Switzerland has a long life and its children are growing up like St. James.
population
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SwitzerlandThe population is 8.738 million, of which the foreign population accounts for 26.5%.German, French, Italian and Latin Romance are the official languages. German is spoken by 62% of the residents, French 23%, Italian 8%, Latin Romance 0.5% and other languages 23%.The residents who believe in Catholicism account for 33%, Protestantism 21%, other religions 14%, and no religious belief 32%.(Source: Swiss Federal Statistical Office website).[4][16]
Switzerland is a multi-ethnic group composed of Swiss Germans, Swiss Franciscans, Swiss Italians and the descendants of a minority of Letoros who can speak a variety of Leto Roman dialects.The complexity of the Swiss nation is closely related to population migration, wars and the composition of the federation in history.[5]
Politics
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regime
Implemented in Switzerlandparliamentary democracy 。Switzerland is a member state, and the highest head of state is the federal president, also known as the president, but it is only a formal leader.The real power comes from the seven member Federal Council, which is composed of the ministers of the seven organs of the state (including the current federal chairman).All members of the Federal Council act collectively as heads of State.The Federal President is elected by seven members of the Federal Council in rotation, representing Switzerland externally for a term of one year.[4]
constitution
The Swiss Constitution was formulated and adopted in 1848, and has been amended many times since 1874.Switzerland implements direct democracy in the form of "referendum" and "citizen initiative".Any amendment to the provisions of the Constitution, the signing of an international treaty with a term of more than 15 years, or accession to an important international organization, must go through a referendum and be approved by the states before it can enter into force.In 1999, Swiss citizens voted to adopt a new constitution, which clearly stipulates that Switzerland is a federal country and each state has its own constitution.The federal government has jurisdiction over foreign affairs, finance, finance, federal taxes, currency, national defense, customs, railways, posts and telecommunications, energy, television, radio and social security, and other matters are under the jurisdiction of the states.States must comply with federal national regulations and accept federal supervision.The new Constitution also establishes the principle that international law prevails over domestic law.[4]
parliament
The Federal Parliament is the highest legislative body and consists of the National Assembly and the Federal Assembly, which have equal powers.Laws or resolutions can only come into force if they are unanimously approved by both houses.There are 200 members of the National Assembly elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term;There are 46 members in the Federal House, who are elected by the states. The term of office varies from state to state, with a maximum of four years.The term of office of the Speaker of both houses is one year.In 2023/2024, Eric Nussbaumer, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Eva Herzog, Speaker of the Federal Assembly, were elected.
The current parliament will be formed in October 2023.[23]
The seats occupied by major political parties in both houses
National Academy
Federal House
Swiss People's Party
sixty-seven
seven
Social Democratic Party
forty-one
nine
Christian Democratic People's Party/Protestant People's Party/Citizen Democratic Party (middle party group)
thirty-one
fifteen
The Green Party
twenty-three
three
Liberal Democratic Party
twenty-eight
eleven
Liberal Greens
ten
one
reference material:[23]
government
The Federal Council is the highest administrative body of the country. It is composed of seven members, who serve as ministers of seven ministries and exercise collective leadership for a term of four years.The chairman and vice-chairman shall be appointed by the federal commissioners in rotation for a term of one year and shall not be re elected.The composition of the Federal Council in 2024 is as follows:
Viola Amherd (female, the middle party), the federal chairman and minister of defense, civil defense and sports, Karin Keller Sutter (female, the Liberal Democratic Party), the federal vice chairman and minister of finance, Guy Parmelin (the People's Party),Ignazio Cassis (Liberal Democratic Party), Federal Commissioner and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Albert R ö sti (People's Party), Federal Commissioner and Minister of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, Elisabeth Baume Schneider (female, Social Democratic Party),Beat Jans, Federal Commissioner and Minister of Justice and Police (Social Democratic Party).[23]
judicial
The Federal Court is the highest judicial body in Switzerland.There are civil, criminal, public law and social law courts in the court. At present, there are 38 federal judges, who are elected by the parliament. The president and vice president are re elected every two years.The current president of the Federal Court is Yves Donzalaz, and the deputy president is Fran ç ois Chaix.
In addition, Switzerland also has a federal administrative court and a federal criminal court, which are responsible for hearing administrative appeals or appeals, cases of dereliction of duty and special criminal cases such as terrorist attacks, leakage of secrets, treason and money laundering.[5][15]
party
There are more than 30 political parties in Switzerland, including:
party
introduce
President/General Secretary
People's Party (SVP)
The French speaking area is called the Middle Democratic Union, which was formed by the merger of the Peasant Party and the Democratic Party in 1971
Current Chairman Marco Chiesa
Liberal Democratic Party (FDP)
The French speaking area is called the Radical Democratic Party, which was founded in 1894
Thierry Burkart, Chairman
Social Democratic Party (SP)
The French speaking area is called the Socialist Party, which was founded in 1888
Mattea Meyer and C é dric Wermuth
Die Mitte
In January 2021, it was merged by the Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP) and the Citizen Democratic Party (BDP)
Gerhard Pfister, Chairman
Green Party (GPS)
Built in 1983
Lisa Mazzone, Chairman.
Liberal Green Party (GLP)
It was founded in 2004 and has been contested nationwide since 2007
J ü rg Grossen, Chairman
Protestant People's Party (EVP)
Built in 1919
Chairman Lilian Studer
Swiss Communist Party
General Secretary Ayi
reference material[4][8][23]
Dignitaries
Inyazio Cassis
Viola Amherd, female, federal president and minister of national defense, civil defense and sports, the middle party.Born in Valle, Switzerland, in 1962, she was elected a member of the National Assembly of the Swiss Federal Parliament in 2005, and a member of the Swiss Federal Council and Minister of National Defence, Civil Defence and Sports in 2019. She is the first female defense minister in Switzerland, and will take turns as the president of the Swiss Confederation in 2024.[23]
Economics
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overview
Switzerland is a highly developed industrial country.To implement the free economic policy, the government should try to reduce intervention and advocate free trade with foreign countries.
The main economic figures of Switzerland are as follows:
gross domestic product
731.4 billion CHF (2022)
GDP per capita
CHF 88717 (2022)
GDP growth rate
5.1% (2022)
Currency name
Swiss franc (short for Swiss franc), 1 Swiss franc=100 children
Inflation rate
1.7% (September 2023)[17]
unemployment rate
1.9% (June 2023)
(Source: Swiss Federal Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Swiss National Bureau of Statistics)[20]
As of July 23, 2021, Moody's, an international rating agency, has rated Switzerland's sovereign credit as AAA/AAA, with a stable outlook.The sovereign credit rating of Switzerland by Fitch, an international rating agency, is AAA, with a stable outlook.Standard&Poor's, an international rating agency, rated Switzerland's sovereign credit as AAA.[5]
One third of the world's money is in Switzerland.[11]
Agriculture
The main crops in Switzerland are wheat, oats, potatoes and sugar beets.Meat is basically self-sufficient, and dairy products are more than self-sufficient.The Swiss government attaches importance to the development of agricultural production.Implement long-term subsidy policies for agriculture, such as granting subsidies, providing special subsidies for mountain areas, and providing price subsidies for major agricultural products;Restrict and reduce the import of vegetables and fruits;To farmersInterest free loan；Support mechanization and specialization of agriculture;Strengthen agricultural scientific research and technical training;Popularize and attach importance to agricultural knowledge.[4]
Industry
Industry is the pillar industry of Switzerland,Machinery manufacturing, chemical industry, medicine, high-grade clocks and watches, and food processing are the main pillar industries of Switzerland.Advanced industrial technology, excellent product quality and strong competitiveness in the international market.In addition to ABB, Nestle, Novartis, Sulzer and other famous large companies, most of them are small and medium-sized enterprises.[15]
Machinery, electronics and metals
The machinery, electronics and metals industry is one of Switzerland's major industrial sectors, including metallurgy, mechanical engineering, vehicle manufacturing, electronics industry and precision parts processing.The output value accounts for about 7% of GDP, and the employed population accounts for 8%.This industry is Switzerland's second largest export industry, with about 80% of its products for export.In 2020, affected by the epidemic, the industry's annual sales fell 9.8%, and the export volume was 60.7 billion Swiss francs, 11.2% less than the previous year, accounting for 27% of Switzerland's total exports. The export products mainly include machinery, precision equipment, metals, electronics and transportation tools.
Pharmaceutical and chemical industry
The output value of pharmaceutical and chemical industry accounts for more than 5% of Switzerland's GDP, leading the global pharmaceutical and chemical industry.There are more than 30000 kinds of products, of which special chemical products account for more than 90%. They are the lifeblood of Swiss pharmaceutical and chemical industry and the main source of export profits.The main product categories include medicine and diagnostic technology, fine chemical products, vitamins, fragrances, plant protection products, veterinary drugs, industrial specialty chemical products, dyes and coatings, etc.This industry is the largest export industry in Switzerland. In 2020, the export volume of this industry was 116.4 billion Swiss francs, rising 1.6% against the trend, accounting for 51.7% of the total export volume.
Horological industry
The watch industry is Switzerland's third largest export industry.As one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world, Switzerland has many world-renowned watch brands, such asSwatch 、Rolex、Calatrava Ref、Tiansuo、LonginesThe products are mainly wristwatches, and there are also seat clocks and pendulum clocks.More than 95% of Swiss watches are exported every year.In 2020, the export of the watch industry will be 16.98 billion Swiss francs, accounting for 7.5% of the total export.
food processing
Food processing industry is one of the earliest pillar industries in Switzerland. It has a high international reputation in dairy products, coffee, chocolate and other fields, with nearly 60000 practitioners.The products are mainly used for domestic consumption.In 2020, the export volume of Swiss food and hobby products will be 8.69 billion Swiss francs, accounting for 3.9% of the total export volume.Nestle, the world's largest food manufacturer, is headquartered in Vowe, Switzerland.[5]
finance
The financial sector is one of the important economic sectors in Switzerland.Thanks to a sound banking system and advanced asset management, Switzerland is known as the world's largest offshore financial center and a leader in international asset management business.The financial industry is developed. In 2021, there will be 239 banks in China.Zurich, the largest city, is one of the international financial centers and the world's second largest gold trading market after London.[5][15]
central bank
The central bank of Switzerland is the Swiss National Bank, which has greater autonomy than the federal government and is responsible for implementing the national monetary policy. Its main policy purpose is to ensure price stability while considering economic development.
commercial bank
Swiss banking industry includes large banks, state banks, credit cooperative banks, foreign banks, private banks, etc.Among them, there are four "systemically important big banks" defined by the Swiss Financial Supervisory Authority, namelyUBS(UBS for short), Credit Suisse, Raiffeisen Schweiz and Z ü rcherKantonalbank account for nearly half of the total assets and liabilities of the Swiss banking industry, covering more than 40% of Switzerland's domestic credit business and nearly 40% of its real estate mortgage business.The main business scope of large banks is: asset management, stock management, foreign exchange transactions, precious metal transactions, letters of credit, guarantees and financial derivatives transactions. Its branches and service networks are all over the world.
UBS and Credit Suisse have worked closely with Chinese banks.UBS Group has branches in Beijing and Shanghai, and offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, mainly engaged in securities, investment and financing services and other businesses.Credit Suisse has a branch in Shanghai and a representative office in Beijing.
cantonal banks
There are 24 state banks in Switzerland, of which 21 are provided with unlimited guarantees by the government.In terms of organizational form, except for the banks in Voh, Zug, Jura, Valle and Geneva, which are mixed shareholding systems, the other 19 state banks are official institutions with independent legal person status. Their own capital comes from the state, and part of their profits must also be handed over to the state government.All state banks are comprehensive banks, and their advantageous areas are savings and real estate mortgage business. At the same time, they provide businesses such as asset management, securities and foreign exchange management, small credit, export credit and leasing for local enterprises.Some state banks are state-owned and can provide government guarantees.The largest state banks include Zurich State Bank, Warsaw State Bank, Basel State Bank, Lucerne State Bank, Saint Gallen State Bank and Bern State Bank.
Foreign banks
Foreign banks are banks in which foreigners hold more than half of the share capital and voting rights, mainly from EU countries (more than 50%) and Japan (about 20%).The business scope is mainly foreign business and asset management business.According to the statistics of Swiss Business Daily, there were 98 foreign banks in Switzerland in 2017, and the top three banks in the balance sheet were EFG Bank AG, Societe Generale and Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG.In 2019, there were 71 foreign-owned banks and 23 branches of foreign banks in Switzerland.[5]
insurance company
Switzerland's insurance industry is developed.In 2019, there were 198 insurance companies under the supervision of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, including 19 life insurance companies, 118 property insurance companies, 11 supplementary medical insurance companies, 25 reinsurance companies and 25 exclusive insurance companies.Among them, there are 149 Swiss insurance companies and 49 foreign insurance companies.From the premium amount, the main subject matter of insurance includes human life, medical treatment, accidents and motor vehicles.Major enterprises include Zurich Financial Services Group, Swiss Re, Swiss Life Insurance Company, AXA Fengtai Insurance Company.In 2018, the assets of Swiss insurance companies reached 582 billion francs.
Zurich Financial Services Group, established in 1872.In 1997, it merged with the Financial Insurance Business Division (BASF) of BAT, the largest tobacco group in the UK, to form Zurich Financial Services Group, headquartered in Zurich.New Group is the second largest insurance company in the world, with about 54000 employees.The profit in 2019 was 5.3 billion US dollars.
stock market
Located in Zurich, the Swiss Stock Exchange is the main stock, bond and option derivatives exchange in Switzerland, one of the most important stock markets in Europe, and one of the most technologically advanced stock exchanges in the world.In 1995, it was merged by Zurich, Basel and Geneva, three stock exchanges with a history of 100 years.In addition, Switzerland also has the Berne Exchange, which mainly provides financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.The Swiss Stock Exchange is part of the SIX Group, which provides global services in securities trading and settlement, financial information and payment transactions.
Thanks to its self-regulation ability, the Swiss Stock Exchange has provided friendly market framework conditions for the listing and trading of stocks, bonds, ETFs, ETPs, funds and structured products at home and abroad.At present, 251 enterprises including Nestle, ABB, Novartis, Roche and other well-known enterprises are listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange.In 2020, the trading volume of the Swiss Stock Exchange was 1.75 trillion Swiss francs, and the operating revenue was 1.4 billion Swiss francs.An important feature of the Swiss Stock Exchange is that it gathers a large number of life science enterprises. More than 1/3 of the market capital of the life science industry in the European large trading market is traded in the Swiss stock exchange.
Credit card use
Credit cards are widely used in Switzerland.Visa and MasterCard are very convenient and can be accepted in most stores.Since 2011, SIX Multipay, Switzerland's largest acquirer, has cooperated with UnionPay, and UnionPay cards can be used in major shops in tourist cities.Swiss SIX Group has started cooperation with Alipay and WeChat payment, and is expected to use domestic mobile payment means in transportation hubs and major shops in the future.[5]
Sino Swiss financial cooperation
There are 6 banks in Switzerland (UBS AG, Credit Suisse AG, Bank of Zurich, Switzerland, European Financial Bank Group Switzerland Ltd., HSBC Private Bank (Switzerland) Ltd., UBS Yingfeng Bank AG) and 3 insurance companies (Fengtai Insurance Company, Zurich Insurance Company and Swiss Reinsurance Company)It has set up 8 representative offices and 5 business branches in China.
In May 2013, the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Financial Dialogue between the People's Bank of China and the Swiss Federal Ministry of Finance, announcing the establishment of the China Switzerland financial dialogue mechanism.In October 2015, China Construction Bank Zurich Branch obtained the business license issued by Switzerland and was authorized by the People's Bank of China to act as the Swiss RMB business clearing bank.In November, the People's Bank of China announced the direct transaction between RMB and Swiss franc in the inter-bank foreign exchange market, and the Swiss franc became the seventh major currency that can directly trade with RMB.In January 2016, China Construction Bank Zurich Branch was officially listed for business.In June 2018, ICBC Zurich Branch opened.In October 2021, Bank of China Geneva Branch opened.[6]
currency
The local currency of Switzerland isCHF(Swiss franc for short), 1 Swiss franc=100 live births, freely convertible.Since the financial crisis, the Swiss franc has appreciated rapidly and significantly. In September 2011, the Swiss National Bank set the lower limit of the euro/Swiss franc exchange rate at 1.2 to curb the appreciation of the Swiss franc.On January 15, 2015, the Swiss National Bank announced the abolition of the lower limit of the exchange rate, and the Swiss franc gradually fell after a sharp appreciation in the short term.Since the outbreak of COVID-19 worldwide, the Swiss franc has been sought after as a safe haven currency and faces appreciation pressure.On March 31, 2021, the exchange rate is 1 dollar=0.9434 Swiss francs, 1 euro=1.1064 Swiss francs.
RMB and Swiss franc can be settled directly.In November 2015, RMB and Swiss franc were directly traded in the inter-bank foreign exchange market.On July 4, 2022, the exchange rate between RMB and Swiss franc is 6.9869 yuan per Swiss franc.[5]
tourism
Switzerland's largest service export industry is also one of the important sources of foreign exchange income, contributing about 6% to GDP.The industry covers catering, accommodation, transportation and other industries related to tourism.Tourism is very developed, which is the third largest foreign exchange earning industry after machinery manufacturing and chemical medicine.In 2022, Switzerland will receive 55.64 million overnight tourists, an increase of 60% over the same period last year.[5][12][15]
foreign trade
Switzerland joined the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) on January 1, 1960, and was a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) when it was founded on January 1, 1995.The WTO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.Switzerland applies MFN treatment to all WTO members and countries that have signed multilateral, bilateral and technical trade agreements with Switzerland, and provides the GSP to developing countries, including China.The Swiss GSP scheme covers a wide range of products and is not related to tax quotas or quotas, nor is it restricted by the so-called "graduation system".In 2021, Switzerland will import 296.5 billion Swiss francs and export 347.7 billion Swiss francs.
Foreign trade plays an important role in the Swiss economy.95% of raw materials, energy and 60% of consumer goods rely on imports;70% - 90% of industrial products are exported, and exports of goods and services account for 40% of GDP.
Switzerland's main export commodities are machinery and equipment, chemical products, medicine, precision instruments, clocks and food, and its main import commodities are raw materials, semi-finished products and durable consumer goods.The main trading partners are the European Union, the United States and China.[4-5][17]
outbound investment
In 2021, Swiss foreign direct investment will decrease by 111 billion Swiss francs, and the stock of overseas investment will be about 1.4 trillion Swiss francs.(Source: SNB website)[4][12][15]
Switzerland is a non EU country with the largest investment in China in Europe.According to the statistics of the Ministry of Commerce of China, in 2020, China will approve 81 new Swiss investment projects in China, with the actual use of Swiss funds of 650 million US dollars, an increase of 1.4%.Swiss investment in China is mainly concentrated in chemical fiber, food processing, electrical tools, medical supplies, auto parts, building materials, textiles and clothing, trade and other fields.ABB、Several large Swiss enterprises such as Nestle and Roche have set up investment companies in China.Schindler Elevator Co., Ltd. participated in the establishment of the first domestic industrial foreign-funded enterprise after the reform and opening up in 1980.Swiss Bank (investment bank) and Yuri (pharmaceutical distribution) are the first foreign enterprises to enter the Chinese market in the process of opening up the Chinese service industry.By the end of 2020, Switzerland's non-financial direct investment in China had totaled US $8.83 billion.[5]
Foreign investment
In 2021, foreign direct investment in Switzerland will decrease by 143 billion Swiss francs, and the investment stock will be about 1 trillion Swiss francs.(Source: SNB website)[4][12][15]
foreign aid
Switzerland regards helping war-torn countries restore peace, develop their economies and eradicate poverty as the main objectives of its development assistance, which is implemented through bilateral and multilateral channels.The recipients of assistance are mainly poor small and medium-sized developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as countries in Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.In 2022, Switzerland will spend 4.27 billion Swiss francs on foreign aid.[4][15]
Culture
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language
Switzerland has four official languages, namely German, French, Italian and Latin Romance.About 62.8% of the residents speak German, 22.9% French, 8.2% Italian, 0.5% Latin Romance and 5.6% other languages.
German is the most widely used language in Switzerland.Seventeen of the 26 states are German speaking.The western region mainly speaks French, and there are four French speaking states: Geneva, Jura, Nathartel and Vow.There are three bilingual German and French states: Bern, Fribourg and Valais.The Italian speaking state is mainly Ticino, and Italian is also spoken in four valley areas in the south of Graubindon.Roman is spoken in Graubinden, and German and Italian are also spoken.Many foreign residents have brought Switzerland a variety of languages.[5]
Religion
In Switzerland, 37.2% of the residents are Catholic, 25% Protestant, 7.4% other religions and 24% non religious.The Catholic cult in Switzerland has been handed down to this day.On the festival day, people wear national costumes, sing, dance and pray.The Children's Day festival is also called the crazy festival. Participants put on masks, tied bags with green peas on their pants, and chased each other.At this time, even the priest put on a mask and joined the people in the ceremony.In mountainous areas, villagers wear gorgeous costumes and the orchestra plays music.After the ceremony, the priest went to the residents' homes to pray and bless for the prosperity of people and livestock.[5]
taboo
Swiss taboo "13" and "Friday", that it will bring misfortune or disaster to people.It is forbidden to inquire about their age, salary and family status, believing that this is a personal matter.When dining in a restaurant, I don't want to hear the sound of tableware colliding with each other and the sound of chewing food.[5]
custom
Swiss people don't like to touch others' bodies at will. Once they touch others' bodies, they will immediately say sorry.It is customary to be courteous to women and old people. Even if they are both men, they will make way for people in urgent need.I like to be quiet. I always try to avoid making loud noises when walking in the room.
Swiss people are used to shaking hands. When shaking hands, they look at each other.When relatives and friends meet, they sometimes give hugs, while women give kisses.For strangers, they are always polite and helpful. No matter you are asking for directions or looking for people, someone will guide you enthusiastically.
Business meetings in Switzerland should be arranged in advance and the appointment time should be strictly observed.When invited to a Swiss home, the usual gifts are flowers, chocolate or wine, but not red roses.In Schwicz, the birthplace of the Swiss, men usually wear knee length trousers, shirts with wide sleeves and short jackets;Women wear silk blouses, long skirts and velvet vests.
Customs that are easily misunderstood or ignored
(1) Strong sense of time.I am used to making appointments on time. If I arrive more than ten minutes late, I must make a phone call.If you arrive early, you usually drive around for a short circle or take a walk nearby so that you can keep your appointment on time.
(2) You should reply if you can attend after receiving the invitation.If there is any change in the middle of the journey, the owner should be notified as soon as possible so that he can make other arrangements.It is extremely impolite not to attend or forget to attend temporarily.
(3) Don't schedule appointments during vacations in July and August.
(4) They don't want to show off their wealth and are ashamed to reveal their embarrassment. They think it is impolite to show off their wealth, so they generally avoid talking about money.
(5) Appropriate topics in the conversation include sports, perception of Switzerland, and tourism.Avoid topics related to weight loss and dieting (especially during meal time), as well as personal age, occupation, family or personal life.
(6) He loves cleanliness. He not only keeps his personal living room clean and tidy, but also pays great attention to maintaining the sanitation of public places. No matter in urban or rural areas, there is rarely the phenomenon of littering.
(7) I don't want to see people drying clothes in public places (apartments, balconies, restaurants, etc.), and I think it is unsightly.
(8) Attach importance to environmental protection.Residents' garbage must be sorted and bagged, and placed at the designated place on the designated date;The waste bottles must be put into the recycling appliances on the street, and they must be put into the designated openings in white, brown and miscellaneous colors.[5]
festival
Switzerland works five days a week, Saturday and Sunday are public holidays.It is the responsibility of all Swiss states to declare public holidays.According to the Swiss federal law, August 1 is the National Day every year, and all parts of Switzerland have a rest like Sunday.National public holidays include: New Year's Day (January 1);Bertot Day (January 2);Good Friday;Monday after Easter;Ascension Day of Jesus *;Halloween * (November 1);Holy Spirit No Original Sin Day *;Christmas (December 25);Boxing Day (December 26) (Note: * Only applicable to states or regions with a large Catholic population).[5]
entertainment
Swissbandari The orchestra is a very popular lyric performance group in the local area. Since its first album was released in 1990, it has caused a sensation in the local area. Its unconventional arrangement and simplified instrument configuration make each piece of music present a fresh natural flavor.
Bandari Music is a subsidiary of the Swiss music company Audio Video Kommications AGNew Age music Groups.His works arebackground musicMainly, there are also some music adapted from European and American country music, in addition, there are a considerable number of famous music repertoires.
Alpine tromboneAlpine tromboneIt used to be a tool for herdsmen in the Alps to summon herds and transmit information. Its written history has been more than 500 years.The wooden horn, which is 3 to 4 meters long and weighs 4 kilograms, has become a representative of Swiss mountain culture.
Every year in SwitzerlandValais International Alpine trombone festivals and competitions will be held in Nanda Town.Nanda Town in Valais is located in the southwest of Switzerland and the center of the Alps. The annual music festival is an important cultural activity in the region, which also makes the town famous overseas.At the music festival, most of the participants wore traditional clothesNational costumeSome solos, some duets, and some whole families played music with the unique sound of Alpine trombone.
specialty
Swiss Army knife
The Swiss army knife looks like a fruit knife in appearance, but its design is perfect, the processing is exquisite, and there are dozens of functions, which is unforgettable, and its reputation is world-wide.Most Swiss people believe that the Swiss Army Knife is more suitable as a symbol of Switzerland.The Swiss army knife has ball point pen, toothpick, scissors, flat knife, can opener, screwdriver, tweezers and other tools inside.Convenient and lightweight.
Swiss cheese is divided into three types, namely, Emental cheese, Gruyere cheese, Appenzell cheese and Monk head cheese, with an annual output of about 130000 tons.Although the production of cheese has no obvious contribution to the national economic development, Swiss cheese is famous worldwide for its high quality and special flavor because it is made in a traditional way.
military
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SwitzerlandThe militia system is implemented, with an active military strength of 140000. There are two services, the army and the air force.All healthy male citizens aged 20-34 must perform military service, and the total length of military training for servicemen in their lifetime is 280 days.During service and after retirement, individual weapons and equipment shall be kept by individuals.In 1995, Switzerland promulgated its first civil service law, which stipulates that citizens can choose freely between military service and civil service since 1997.The Federal Council has the highest command and leads the military through the Ministry of Defence.The overall operational guiding ideology is defensive warfare.In 2022, the defense expenditure will be about 5.87 billion Swiss francs, accounting for 0.76% of the total financial expenditure.[4][15]
traffic
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highway
In 2023, Switzerland will have a total length of 84868 kilometers, including 1544 kilometers of expressways.In 2020, there will be about 6.6 million motor vehicles in China, including about 4.7 million vehicles.[20]Switzerland has the densest expressway network in the world and the longest highway tunnel in the world at present, the St. Gotha Tunnel, with a total length of 17 kilometers, connecting Germany and Italy, which is of vital significance to Europe.[5]
Railway
The railway has a total length of 5317 kilometers (2020), is fully electrified, and its density ranks first in the world. There are 1672 railway stations in China.[18]The transport rate of the Swiss railway network is the highest in Europe, and the trains are very punctual.Swiss people take trains frequently, known as "railway champions", and take trains more than 70 times per year.Switzerland has a small land area and mountainous terrain, so there is not much demand for high-speed railway. There are no other high-speed railway lines except Mattstetten Rothrist (located between Bern and Alten), where there are 200 km/h trains on the short route.[5]
air transport
Switzerland has 14 civil airports, including 3 international airports and 11 local airports.The three major international airports are Zurich Airport, Geneva Airport and Basel Airport (located in France).Zurich Airport is one of the most important hubs in Europe. Geneva International Airport and Basel European Airport also have a large number of flights connecting major business centers in Europe with tourist destinations, as well as many direct flights to foreign destinations.Both Geneva Airport and Basel Airport are located in the border area, one step away from neighboring countries, which provides great convenience for neighboring countries to carry out international trade with other EU countries through Switzerland.
In 2019, there were 1.39 million flights starting and landing in Switzerland.Affected by the epidemic, the number of passengers transported by air transport channels will decline by 72% to 16.5 million in 2020;The volume of goods transported dropped by 40% to 275000 tons, including 13600 tons of postal parcels.
In March 2005, Swiss Airlines was acquired by Lufthansa and renamed Swiss International Airlines.In terms of passenger transport, there are more than 100 routes to 45 countries and 91 planes.At the same time, it has more than 130 freight routes connecting more than 80 countries.Affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, Ryanair announced in its quarterly report released in April 2021 that it would reduce its fleet by 15%.[5]
water transport
Shipping not only plays an important role in Switzerland's tourism industry, but also an important part of international trade.Switzerland is a landlocked country,The total length of waterway routes is 514 km (2020).In 2022, there will be 98000 private ships nationwide.The important inland port is Basel.[18]
The Rhine, which originates from Switzerland, is one of the busiest waterways in the world.Basel Inland Port is an important import and export hub of Switzerland, which transports goods to Germany, France and other European countries through this channel.[5]
Pipeline transportation
There are about 200km oil pipelines and 2300km natural gas pipelines.[18]
Sociology
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education
Switzerland has a large number of universities, colleges and technical schools, and its education and scientific research are among the best in the world.Education is highly valued in Switzerland. The Swiss education system is divided into four stages: preschool, primary, secondary, higher education and adult education.Education is managed by the states, with self raised funds and self compiled textbooks.Nine year compulsory education system is implemented nationwide, with more than 10000 schools of various types.There are more than 30 colleges and universities, of which the Federal Polytechnic University of Zurich and the Federal Polytechnic University of Lausanne are directly under the federal government.In 2021/2022, there will be about 988000 students in compulsory education.There will be 275000 college students in 2022/2023.[23]There is no federal ministry of education in Switzerland. Each state has its own minister of education. The minister of education of each state forms the Swiss State Education Ministry Committee (EDK).Although states retain autonomy, EDK still plays an important role in discussing and coordinating education policies.
There are 11000 schools in Switzerland.12 public universities, including 2 directly under the Swiss ConfederationZurich Federal Institute of Technology(Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) andFederal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, 10 state universities.In addition, there are 8 applied science and technology colleges and 20 normal universities, which constitute the Swiss public higher education system.[5]
hygiene
Switzerland has the most developed public health care system in the world, with high-level medical experts and clinics and medical institutions using the most advanced medical technology.The developed hospital system provides medical services for everyone.The Swiss public health system is mainly divided into two parts: one is the health departments of the federal government and the state government, and the other is various medical institutions.Swiss law stipulates that medical insurance is an insurance that every Swiss resident must have.The medical insurance covers the medical and living expenses when diseases, births and accidents occur, including basic insurance and additional insurance.As far as the contribution share is concerned, part of the medical expenses shall be borne by the insured.[5]
science and technology
Switzerland is located in the center of Europe, between Germany, France, Italy and other major countries, and gathers talents, capital and advanced technology from all countries,It is an internationally recognized international scientific research center. In 2019, R&D investment accounted for 3.15% of gross domestic product (GDP), and R&D expenditure reached 22.9 billion Swiss francs, most of which was funded by private enterprises (68%).Internationally, Switzerland is one of the countries with the highest proportion of R&D investment in GDP.
According to the Law on the Promotion of Research and Innovation, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency Innosuisse provide funding for research and innovation.Switzerland has unique R&D advantages and multiple patents in vitamins, pesticides, textile printing, food, antiviral vaccines and drugs, clocks, precision instruments and other fields.In the ranking of the number of patent applications issued by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2020, the average number of patents applied by Switzerland per million residents reached 965.9, ranking first;The total number of patent applications registered in Switzerland was 8112, down 1.9% from the previous year;ABB Group has 678 patent applications in 2020, ranking first among Swiss enterprises.
According to the ranking list of Global Innovation Index (GII) in 2020 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization, Switzerland has ranked first for ten consecutive years.Among them, the sub index of innovation output, knowledge and technology output and other innovation indicators rank first, and the indicators of system, human capital and research, infrastructure, market maturity, business maturity and creative output are world leading.[5]
power
In 2020, Switzerland's total electricity consumption will be 59.9 billion kilowatt hours. If transmission and distribution losses are deducted, its domestic consumption will be 55.7 billion kilowatt hours, a year-on-year decrease of 2.6%.The total domestic power production is 65.5 billion kilowatt hours.Among them, 58.1% are from hydropower stations, 32.9% are from nuclear power plants, and 9% are from conventional thermal power plants and renewable energy sources.In 2020, Switzerland imported 27 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, exported 32.6 billion kilowatt hours, and had an export surplus of 5.6 billion kilowatt hours (in 2019, the export surplus was 6.3 billion kilowatt hours).
According to the new energy law that came into effect in January 2018, Switzerland will prohibit the construction of new nuclear power plants. The longest operating period of existing nuclear power plants will not exceed 60 years, and they will be completely out of operation by the 1930s.On December 20, 2019, the earliest M ü hleberg nuclear power plant in Switzerland, located in the Argao state, officially stopped operation.After the withdrawal of nuclear power, the power supply gap will be filled by hydropower, renewable energy, cogeneration, natural gas hybrid power generation and imports.To this end, Switzerland will expand large and build new small and medium-sized hydropower stations, which will play a major role in Switzerland's power infrastructure.
Switzerland is connected to the power grids of Germany, France, Italy, Austria and other neighboring countries through 41 cross-border power grids, and conducts power transactions.Switzerland is accelerating the negotiation of power agreement with the EU to integrate into the EU power market on the basis of expanding the opening of the power market.[5]
media
Switzerland has no special agency in charge of news media, which is managed and operated by private companies. The main agency is the semi official news agency - Swiss Radio and Television Public Service Group (SRG).
Newspapers and MediaThere is one news agency: Swiss News Agency.There are about 80 newspapers in China, among which the German language newspapers New Zurich, Daily Guide and Glance are the most influential.Ringier AG, founded in 1883, is the largest comprehensive media group in Switzerland. Headquartered in Zurich, it has about 7000 employees worldwide.[15]
[Radio and television media] Each language region in Switzerland has its own language radio and television.The Swiss Public Radio and Television Company (SRG), headquartered in Bern, started broadcasting in 1997, enjoys the federal broadcasting franchise and is responsible for producing and broadcasting radio and television programs in four official languages.Swiss Radio International produces programmes in the official language and in English, Spanish and Arabic, and transmits them abroad through short wave radio and satellite.[5]
signal communication
In 2018, there were 43 telecommunication service providers in Switzerland.Among them, Swiss Telecom (Swisscom) is the largest telecommunications service provider, and other major telecommunications service providers are Sunrise and Salt, accounting for 96.5% of the telecommunications operation market in Switzerland.In 2019, Switzerland had 4.03 million broadband users, 2.03 million broadband DSL ports, 850000 optical fiber ports, 1.14 million cable TV ports, and 10.83 million mobile phone users.In February 2019, the federal government issued 5G mobile radio frequency use licenses to three Swiss telecom operators (Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt).
The infrastructure construction of 5G network faces great resistance in Switzerland, and people think that the research on health risks brought by 5G technology is insufficient.Therefore, 5G construction progress is slow.According to the statistics of the Swiss Federal Communications Agency (Bakom), as of February 2021, there are about 4800 5G base stations in Switzerland.Sunrise and Swisscom, two major Swiss telecom operators, announced that their 5G services have covered 90% of Swiss people.However, in fact, the 5G service provided by Swiss telecom operators for Swiss people can only be called light version 5G, which is indistinguishable from 4G and far from achieving high-speed information transmission.[5]
public security
There are no anti government armed groups in Switzerland.In 1997, Switzerland introduced the Firearms Law, which strictly restricts the purchase, possession, transfer and operation of firearms and ammunition.In May 2019, the Swiss referendum passed the amendment to the Gun Control Law, which imposes rigid requirements on the purchase license of semi-automatic weapons, but assault rifles can still be purchased directly after military service.The new Act guarantees continued cooperation with Schengen countries and the Dublin Pact countries.
The overall security situation in Switzerland is good and the society is stable.In 2020, Switzerland convicted about 95000 adults, a decrease of 11% compared with 2019.Since the number of burglaries in Switzerland reached a record of 73700 in 2012, the number has declined by more than half.In 2020, the police recorded 32819 theft cases, down 9.9% from the previous year.The police reported for the first time that there were 24398 digital crime cases in 2020, including 16395 online fraud cases.[5]
People's livelihood
price
Switzerland is one of the countries with the highest price level in Europe. Due to the high concentration of agricultural product protection policies and retail industry, the price of food and living goods in Switzerland is about 1/3 higher than that in neighboring Germany and France.
Water price
In Bern, for example, the prices of industrial and domestic water are basically the same.The basic cost is 159 Swiss francs/50 cubic meters.Since then, it will be charged according to the consumption. For 50-500 cubic meters, the price is 2.6 Swiss francs/cubic meter. For 500-5000 cubic meters, the price is 1.9 Swiss francs/cubic meter. The unit price will decrease gradually.(Data source: water and electricity supply company ewb of Bern).
Electricity price
The electricity price in Switzerland includes power supply fee, grid connection fee and surcharge, actual connection fee of installed energy and price based on usage.Power supply prices vary from state to state. Lucerne State, with the lowest electricity price, has an average electricity price of 13.55 births/kWh, while Bern State, Jura State and Basel City State have an average electricity price of more than 24 births/kWh.
Taking Bern as an example, in 2021, the electricity charge of standard power supply products for ordinary households (H4 power consumption level: the annual power consumption of households with five rooms is about 4500 kWh) will be 8.82 births/kWh, the network access fee will be 12.25 births/kWh, the surcharge will be 1.50 births/kWh, and the average price will be 24.62 births/kWh.(Data source: Swiss Federal Electricity Commission Elcom).[5]
salary
According to the salary data collected in the Salary Yearbook compiled by the Zurich Economic and Labor Office, Swiss diplomats are not only the most popular occupation, but also the highest paid occupation, with an average monthly salary of 13555 Swiss francs;In the second place is the military sergeant, with a monthly salary of 8192 Swiss francs;The third is primary school teachers, with a monthly salary of 6981 Swiss francs.Among other occupations, journalists with three years of experience in journalism earn 6440 Swiss francs a month, nurses 6189 Swiss francs a month, construction workers with more than four years of experience and well-trained earn 5553 Swiss francs a month, kindergarten teachers 4977 Swiss francs a month, carpenters 4435 Swiss francs a month, librarians 4000 Swiss francs a month, and taxi drivers 3200 Swiss francs a month.According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, in 2018, the median monthly salary of full-time employees in Switzerland was 6538 Swiss francs, which is one of the countries with the highest labor wage in the world.
Switzerland does not have a national minimum wage standard. In the industry, the minimum wage can be set through labor agreements. About 60% of employees do not enjoy the minimum wage guarantee.In addition, the state government can set the minimum wage with the consent of the state residents.In 2012, the Swiss Confederation of Trade Unions (SGB) proposed to introduce a minimum wage of 22 Swiss francs per hour nationwide, setting the minimum wage at 4000 Swiss francs per month (42 hours), but it was rejected in the referendum on May 18, 2014.At present, three Swiss states have implemented the minimum wage standard.Nashthal and Jura states set the minimum wage at 20 Swiss francs/hour;In September 2020, the state of Geneva adopted a referendum to set the minimum wage at 23 Swiss francs per hour.[5]
social security
Switzerland's social security system is based on three pillars: the state, employers and individual social security plans.The first pillar: government supported endowment and survivors insurance (OASI) and long-term disability insurance or disability benefits (DI) meet the most basic needs of the insured or beneficiaries.Both are compulsory insurance, which is funded through the joint payment of insurance benefits by employers and employees (based on a certain proportion of wages) and taxes.The second pillar: the occupational pension insurance plan (BVG) is a supplement to the first pillar, enabling retirees to maintain a consistent standard of living after retirement.All personnel working in Switzerland must take part in this insurance.The occupational pension insurance is jointly paid by employers and employees (based on a certain proportion of wages).The third pillar: the individual voluntary pension plan for employees or self-employed persons, which covers additional personal needs, mainly in the form of bank and insurance deposits.
the labor
The quality of Swiss labor force is high, but in recent years, the proportion of its labor force (20-64 years old) in the total population has declined, and the proportion of the elderly has increased.In the fourth quarter of 2020, the number of employees nationwide will be 5.13 million, including 2.78 million men and 2.35 million women.Full employment in European countries.Since March 2020, affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, Switzerland's unemployment rate has increased compared with previous years.In April 2021, Switzerland registered 151279 unemployed people, 2134 fewer than the same period in 2020, and the unemployment rate was 3.3%.Switzerland's employment rate and female employment rate are among the top in Europe. In addition, the proportion of "part-time employment" in the Swiss employment market is also higher than that in most European countries.
In 2020, the Swiss labor force will be 3.49 million and the foreign labor force will be 1.64 million, accounting for nearly 32% of the total Swiss labor force. 78.6% of the foreign labor force will come from the European Union and EFTA member countries, of which the European Union labor force will mainly come from Germany (25%), Italy (21%) and Portugal (21%).[5]
Land and house price
Since the outbreak of the world economic and financial crisis in 2007, Switzerland has successfully controlled the spread of the crisis and maintained economic growth. However, due to the long-term implementation of low interest rate policies, the cost of housing purchase has been reduced, and the real estate market has become unprecedentedly prosperous, which once led to the risk of overheating of the real estate market.
There are few vacant land sales in Switzerland. If you buy an independent property, it includes land ownership. However, if you buy a multi family apartment on the first floor, the provisions on land ownership are different.It is very difficult to buy real estate in the old urban areas due to the restrictions on the protection of many cultural relics in the old urban areas of various cities.Around Zurich, the price of an independent property varies from CHF 1 million to CHF 3.5 million, while the price of Bern is slightly cheaper, ranging from CHF 750000 to CHF 2 million.
Switzerland strictly controls the purchase of residence by foreigners. Citizens of non EU or EFTA member countries can only purchase a house for their own residence if they obtain residence qualification (Category B), while those who obtain long-term residence (Category C) are not restricted.In order to protect the natural environment and prevent over development, Switzerland introduced a law on the second housing, which restricted the construction of holiday villas in mountainous areas. This law came into force in 2016.
Construction cost
Housing cost in the center of the city: many factors need to be considered for the construction cost of the house, such as the city, location, traffic location, land price, geology, and the final decoration quality and result of the house.Without considering the land price, the cost of central houses in large cities in Switzerland is 4000-8000 Swiss francs/square meter.
Price of main building materials: 7.5 Swiss francs/pack of cement (25kg);Transportation oil 95 # gasoline 1.667 Swiss francs/liter (in April 2021, the price fluctuates between 1.70 and 1.33 Swiss francs/liter in recent three years);Heating oil is about 0.82 Swiss francs/liter (the average price in April 2021 will decrease according to the increase of one-time purchase quantity).[5]
International Relations
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foreign policy
Switzerland is a permanently neutral country and has pursued a neutral policy since 1815.Since joining the United Nations in September 2002, Switzerland's foreign policy has focused more on human rights and humanitarianism, vigorously carried out good offices diplomacy, and tried to play a unique role in international affairs and expand its international influence.In January 2024, Switzerland released a new version of its diplomatic strategy document, which defined the priorities of its foreign policy from 2024 to 2027 as peace and security, growth and competitiveness, sustainable development and the promotion of democracy.Switzerland was elected as a non permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2023/2024 in June 2022.[23]
In 2002, Switzerland joined the United Nations. Since then, Switzerland has had to implementthe United NationsSanctions decisions.Switzerland is currently running for a non permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.Critics believe that Switzerland's candidacy for a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council puts Switzerland's neutral image at risk.
In March 2021, Pascale Baeriswyl, head of the Swiss Mission to the United Nations in New York, once expressed her opinion on the issue of "neutrality". She said that Switzerland could not always avoid taking a position when encountering difficulties in foreign policy. "Switzerland is not neutral on issues that violate international law".[7]
On February 28, 2022 local time, Switzerland announced that it would participate in the EU'sRussiaThe package of sanctions of the Russian Federation, freezing the assets of relevant Russian individuals and institutions in Switzerland, broke its long-standing tradition of political neutrality.Switzerland is under increasing pressure from its European allies to take action against Russia, even though this violates the country's long-standing and politically almost inviolable commitment to international neutrality.According to an article published on the Swiss Information Network, many previously neutral European countries, such asBelgium、Luxembourg、DenmarkorNorway, have joined the NATO Military Defense Alliance.According to the traditional Chinese legislation, this is actually an illegal act.Switzerland is also gradually moving away from the traditional neutral principle and joining the national community.[7]
On January 3, 2023 local time, Switzerland officially became a member of the Security Council for a two-year term from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024.[9-10]
external relations
Relations with China
Switzerland recognized the People's Republic of China on January 17, 1950. On September 14, the same year, China and Switzerland officially established diplomatic relations.Since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than 70 years ago, bilateral relations have developed steadily on the whole.In recent years, China and Switzerland have frequent high-level exchanges.
In December 1974, China and Switzerland signed the Sino Swiss Trade Agreement and established the Sino Swiss Mixed Trade Commission.In 1979, the Swiss government granted China GSP treatment.In July 2013, the two countries signed the China Switzerland Free Trade Agreement, which is the first bilateral free trade agreement between China and European countries and the top 20 countries in the global economy.On July 1, 2014, the China Switzerland Free Trade Agreement came into force.[13]
In January 2024, China will grant Switzerland unilateral visa free treatment, and Switzerland will also provide more visa facilities for Chinese citizens and Chinese enterprises investing in SwitzerlandLi.[19]
From March 14, 2024, in order to further promote the exchange of Chinese and foreign personnel, China decided to expand the scope of visa free countries and try to implement a visa free policy for Swiss ordinary passport holders.[21-22]
Bilateral trade: Switzerland is China's sixth largest trading partner in Europe, and China is Switzerland's largest trading partner in Asia.In 2023, China Switzerland trade volume will be 59.5 billion US dollars (+4.4%), including 5.74 billion US dollars (- 24.8%) of exports to Switzerland and 53.76 billion US dollars (+8.9%) of imports from Switzerland.From January to February 2024, the trade volume between China and Switzerland will be 16.76 billion US dollars, up 90.3% year on year.China mainly imports mechanical and electrical products, chemical and pharmaceutical products, optical instruments, medical equipment, clocks and watches;Exports mainly include textiles, electromechanical products, chemical raw materials, toys, sports equipment and leather products.
Investment and technical cooperation: Switzerland began to invest in China in 1982. Sino Swiss joint venture Schindler Elevator Co., Ltd. is the first Sino foreign joint venture industrial enterprise approved by China.By the end of 2023, China has approved a total of 2358 Swiss investment projects in China, and Switzerland has actually invested 10.41 billion dollars.Switzerland is an important source country of technology import for China in Europe.By the end of 2023, China's technology import from Switzerland had totaled 14.68 billion US dollars, with 2662 projects.
Financial cooperation: At present, Swiss banks such as UBS AG, Zurich Bank of Switzerland, European Financial Bank Group Switzerland Ltd., HSBC Private Bank (Switzerland) Ltd., Swiss Bank Yingfeng Bank Co., Ltd., and Fengtai Insurance CompanySwiss insurance companies such as Zurich Insurance Company and Swiss Re have many representative offices or business branches in China.In May 2013, the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Financial Dialogue between the People's Bank of China and the Swiss Federal Ministry of Finance, announcing the establishment of the China Switzerland financial dialogue mechanism.In July 2014, the People's Bank of China and the Swiss National Bank signed a bilateral local currency swap agreement with a scale of 150 billion yuan/21 billion Swiss francs.In January 2015, Premier Li Keqiang announced a quota of 50 billion yuan for qualified foreign institutional investors in Switzerland during his visit to Switzerland, and the two sides signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the People's Bank of China and the Swiss National Bank.In October, China Construction Bank Zurich Branch obtained the business license issued by Switzerland and was authorized by the People's Bank of China to act as the Swiss RMB business clearing bank.In November, the People's Bank of China announced the direct transaction between RMB and Swiss franc in the inter-bank foreign exchange market, and the Swiss franc became the seventh major currency that can directly trade with RMB.In January 2016, China Construction Bank Zurich Branch was officially listed for business.In June 2018, ICBC Zurich Branch opened.In November 2018, China Construction Bank Zurich Branch and Swiss Vontobel Bank jointly developed the "Belt and Road" financial product, which is the first financial product jointly developed by banks of China and Europe with the "Belt and Road" as the investment theme.In April 2019, during the visit of Swiss Federal President Maurer to China, the securities trading institutions, insurance groups and financial technology enterprises of both sides signed relevant cooperation documents.In October 2021, Bank of China Geneva Branch opened.In July 2022, the interconnected depositary receipts (GDR) business of the China Switzerland Securities Market was officially opened.
Culture: In recent years, cultural exchanges between China and Switzerland have continued to expand, and artistic performance groups from both countries, such as ballet troupes, symphony orchestras, and drama troupes, have exchanged visits and performed.The two sides also held exchange exhibitions on tourism, painting, film and art.In addition, exchanges between non-governmental friendly organizations and academic groups have become increasingly active.During President Xi Jinping's visit to Switzerland in January 2017, the two sides signed an agreement on cultural cooperation between China and Switzerland.In 2019, the large-scale cultural event "Meet China" and celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China was successfully held in Switzerland.
Education: China has sent students to Switzerland since 1978.By the end of 2022, there were 3361 Chinese students studying in Switzerland.There are 12 universities and 9 universities of applied science and technology in Switzerland that have close exchanges and cooperation with China.In 2012, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on China Switzerland Higher Education, and held four sessions of China Switzerland Education Policy Dialogue in 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019 respectively.In 2017, the two sides signed the first agreement on vocational education and training, and Switzerland opened the first Swiss school in Beijing.At present, China has a Confucius Institute in Geneva.
Science and technology: In February 1989, the Chinese and Swiss governments signed the Sino Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, formally establishing the scientific and technological cooperation relationship between the two governments.In October 2019, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Swiss Federal Ministry of Economy, Education and Research signed the Joint Statement on Strengthening Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation.In July 2020, the Ministry of Science and Technology supported and promoted the China Science and Technology Exchange Center and the Swiss start-up business incubator to jointly hold the first China Switzerland scientific and technological innovation precision cooperation "cloud docking" activity, which has been held for four times so far.In June 2021, China and Switzerland held the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cooperation between the Torch High tech Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Swiss Federal Innovation Park Coordination Agency by video.
Tourism: In May 1998, the China National Tourism Administration set up a tourism office in Zurich, Switzerland.In March 1999, the Swiss National Tourism Administration Beijing Office was established, followed by Shanghai and Hong Kong offices.In June 2004, China and Switzerland signed a tourism destination agreement.In 2017, the two sides jointly held the "China Switzerland Tourism Year".According to Swiss statistics, the number of Chinese mainland citizens visiting Switzerland in 2019 was 1.01 million, down 1.7% year on year.According to the statistics of the data center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 70500 Swiss tourists came to China in 2019, down 4.68% year on year.In February 2023, Switzerland will become the first batch of pilot countries for Chinese travel agencies and online travel enterprises to resume the operation of outbound group tourism business of Chinese citizens.In March 2024, the Chinese side decided to implement a visa free policy for unilateral entry within 15 days for Swiss ordinary passport holders who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit.
Provincial and state exchanges: The two sides have formed 20 pairs of friendly provincial and state (city) relations (arranged according to the time of establishment), which are Kunming and Zurich, Changsha and Fribourg, Beihai and Lugano, Shanghai and Basel, Huangshan and Interlaken, Gansu and Sorotoun, Jiangsu and Lucerne, Shangri la and AlosaHangzhou and Lugano, Shandong and Algol, Chongqing and Zurich, Guangdong and Zurich, Ordos and Klein Montana, Guizhou and Upper Walden, Shenzhen and Bern, Heilongjiang and Sorotoun, Jiangsu and Wozhou, Lijiang and Zermatt, Hunan and ShaffhausenNantong Tongzhou District and Xinengweld City.In addition, Yulong Snow Mountain and Matterhong Peak in Lijiang, China, Huangshan and Jungfrau Peak, Emei and Ruiji Peak have become sister peaks.[24]
Relations with the EU
Switzerland regards the EU as its most important political and economic partner. Although Switzerland has not joined the EU, it has very close relations with each other and has signed many bilateral agreements.Since Switzerland joined the EU Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, a large number of people from the EU, especially from southern European countries, have poured into Switzerland. The number of Swiss immigrants has grown rapidly, which has caused resistance among Swiss people.On February 9, 2014, the Swiss referendum passed the "Anti EU Mass Migration Initiative", which cast a shadow on the Swiss European relations.
Relations with Belarus
On April 8, 2022,BelarusThe government passed a resolution approving a list of countries that have taken unfriendly actions against Minsk.This includes Switzerland.[3]
Relations with Mexico
On May 29, 2024 local time, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Sommerfeld announced that Switzerland agreed to be the "diplomatic channel" between the governments of Ecuador and Mexico to resolve the diplomatic conflict between the two countries.[25]
