Moldova and the Swiss Confederation signed a joint statement, laying the basis of a future agreement on social protection which will guarantee the protection of the rights of workers from both of the countries. Bilateral cooperation was formalized in the fields of labor and tourism. The document was signed by the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset and the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu, who paid an official visit to Switzerland, IPN reports.

President Sandu said that Switzerland continues standing by Moldova through its development programs. In solidarity with Moldova, which is affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Switzerland offered its support in 2022 and 2023. On October 17, within the Moldova Support Platform, it announced new 25 million Swiss francs in grant funding for 2024.

In a joint news conference with President Alain Berset, the Moldovan official mentioned the Swiss partners’ support in the fight against corruption. “The sanctions imposed by the Swiss government against those who threaten our stability send a powerful message: Moldova is not alone; integrity and good governance are values that we share with the rest of the democratic world and will protect together,” stated Maia Sandu.

She had a discussion with Gretta Fenner, director general of the International Center for Asset Recovery of the Basel Institute on Governance. The interlocutors discussed methods of cooperating in reforming the justice sector, recovering assets and developing professional expertise in the field.

President Sandu also had a dialog with students of the Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich. Together with the rector of the Technical University of Moldova Viorel Bostan, they discussed opportunities of cooperation between the two institutions with Joël Mesot, the President of the Swiss university.

President Maia Sandu paid a visit to Switzerland at the invitation of her Swiss counterpart Alain Berset on October 18-19.