Swiss Ambassador retires before National Day

Swiss Ambassador Jorg Alois Reding finished his diplomatic career in late July after 35 years of Foreign Service at various departments and overseas missions of the Swiss Confederation.

At the embassy reception Tuesday in Seoul, which marked the 725th anniversary of Switzerland’s nationhood on Aug. 1, the envoy reflected on his posting in Korea as well as deepening bilateral relations.

“My family and I have spent unforgettable years in Seoul,” he said in a speech in Korean. “I had the opportunity to visit Korea for the first time briefly in 1974 as a student. Ever since, I have always enjoyed coming here. I love Korea’s climate, beautiful landscape, Seoul and Korean friends.”

Starting his career as a business journalist for LNN Daily in Luzern in 1977, Reding worked in Bern, Sao Paulo, Abidjan of the Ivory Coast and Singapore, before Korea, mainly covering economic affairs. Upon retirement, Reding said he will stay in Asia and often revisit Korea.

“Switzerland is a small country in population and land mass, but we belong to the giants in economic performance, innovation and the number of Nobel Prize winners,” the ambassador stressed. “We are third in the world in terms of the Central Bank’s financial reserves, and this makes the Swiss Franc attractive.”

He quipped, “Contrary to what many people think, Switzerland is not that expensive, especially if you come from Korea.”

On July 13 and 14, Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann visited Korea for a summit with Korean President Park Geun-hye. As a follow-up to Park’s visit to Switzerland in January 2014, the two sides discussed various issues covering diplomacy and security, trade and investment, and science and technology, alongside regional and global issues.

In particular, they shared views on ways to expand cooperation in medical and health care industries, information communications technology and joint ventures, in an effort to flesh out Korea’s creative economy agenda for industrial upgrading.

“I am very pleased that both visits happened during my posting here, which is the best that could happen to an ambassador,” the diplomat noted.

Mentioning many Swiss delegations came here under his ambassadorship, Reding said the visits proved “effective” and were followed up by concrete results, such as the Life Science Symposium, which the embassy has organized for the last three years with Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare. The embassy has also devised and implemented vocational training programs with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology. 

“Korea has been a dream posting,” Reding said. “It’s one of the most exciting and interesting regions of the world in terms of politics, security, economics, culture, science and natural beauty. Quality of life is exceptional thanks to the real and perceived security.”

Acknowledging the presence of Swiss troops in Korea, who have served as part of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission since the end of the Korean War (1950-53), Reding highlighted that they have contributed to the Korean Peninsula’s peace and security 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

During the event at the Grand Hilton Seoul, formerly the Swiss Grand Hotel, the Swiss Military Small Band performed alongside the Ministry of National Defense Military Band of Korea and Incheon Alpenrose Children’s Choir. Swiss raclette cheese and national wine were served.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)