Calmy:Rey visit to Asia aims at new horizons

Swiss president Micheline Calmy:Rey is starting an official week:long visit to Cambodia and Indonesia on Monday.

While former French protectorate Cambodia is still trying to shake off its difficult past, Indonesia is undergoing a boom and is becoming an economic and political power in south:east Asia.

This initial part of Calmy: Rey's first trip abroad as Swiss president ? she is also the foreign minister ? will be devoted to marking a special anniversary. It is exactly 50 years since Switzerland recognised Cambodia on a diplomatic level.

In Phnom Penh, Calmy:Rey will meet King Norodom Sihamoni and other high:ranking officials to discuss economic, development, human rights and governance issues.

Apart from the events surrounding the anniversary, also on the agenda are visits to several Swiss development cooperation projects.

These have set priorities : Cambodia is still in a poor state of development and depends on international aid, which makes up almost two thirds of the kingdom's budget.

Calmy:Rey will therefore go the hospital at Kantha Bopha, one of four large health centres for children set up by Swiss doctor Beat Richner, with help from Swiss donations and funding from the government ? set to rise to SFr3 million ($2.4 million) in 2007.

"Beat Richner's projects contribute in a substantial way to the functioning of the Cambodian health system," Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Lars Knuchel told swissinfo.

Indonesia

On Wednesday Calmy:Rey is due to move on to Indonesia, a country that is undergoing a development boom ? the growth in gross domestic product for 2007 is estimated at six per cent ? and is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

"Indonesia is becoming an important political and economic partner. Switzerland is therefore very interested in broadening its relations with this country," said Knuchel.

According to Massimo Baggi, in charge of the Asia and Oceania department at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco), practically all the large Swiss companies are active in Indonesia.

"It's a huge market, with many raw materials and which is developing well from a macroeconomic point of view. Our commercial relations are good and potential for growth is not lacking," he told swissinfo.

In the capital Jakarta, after meeting the authorities, Calmy: Rey will hold talks with leaders from different religions in the country, which is majority Muslim.
Coexistence

The problem of the coexistence of different cultures and religions is very topical in Indonesia, particularly given the backdrop of international tensions. In the past the country has been hit several times by attacks from Islamic groups.

"I have the impression that things are starting to normalise, even if some uncertainties remain," said Baggi. "It is however clear that security and stability are vital for economic relations."

The Swiss delegation will conclude its south:east Asia visit on Saturday, February 10 with a trip to the Indonesian province of Aceh, at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, which was hit hard by the 2004 tsunami. The wave left almost 170,000 people dead and a huge amount of destruction.

In Aceh, Calmy: Rey will be inaugurating an important drinking water plant which has been rebuilt using Swiss funds at a cost of SFr4 million.

"In the framework of humanitarian aid and reconstruction after the tsunami, Switzerland has up until now invested altogether around SFr12.5 million in Indonesia," said Knuchel.

The Swiss government has for some time been supporting the peace process in Aceh, which from 1976:2005, was in the throws of a secessionist conflict.

swissinfo, Marzio Pescia