A launch party was held on 14 June to mark the official opening of the Swiss Pavilion at the 2008 World Expo in Zaragoza. In keeping with the theme of this year’s expo - water and sustainable development – Switzerland will be represented by the project “Under the Lake”. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a giant sail, which will not only serve as a video screen but will also be a major component of the pavilion’s cooling system. Thanks to the unconventional way it is hung, the sail forms a three-dimensional image of a lake floor. As they venture beneath the sail, visitors will be drawn into a fascinating underwater universe. The Swiss Pavilion will be the ideal spot to relax and get away from all the Expo hustle and bustle.

The Rhone flows into the Mediterranean, the Ticino river into the Adriatic via the Po, the Inn via the Danube to the Black Sea and the Rhine to the North Sea. Given that all these rivers have their source in Switzerland, the country can rightly be considered as Europe’s reservoir. Switzerland will seize the opportunity to highlight this fact during the 2008 World Expo in Zaragoza. To find out more about Switzerland and its relationship with this vital natural resource, log on to our partner information portal ch.ch.

On swissworld.org – good to know:
DVD Water – A Swiss Perspective

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing are just around the corner and with it the official opening of the "House of Switzerland 2008, China". Presence Switzerland is delighted to have the Lucerne region as its official partner. From 1 to 24 August, the region will have the chance to show why it is such a popular tourist destination and dynamic business location. Based in the up-and-coming artists’ district of Dashanzi which lies northeast of Peking, the House of Switzerland 2008 is within easy travelling distance to and from the main Olympic venues.

The House of Switzerland will serve as a meeting point for the Swiss Olympic team. It will also be used by the Swiss government, its partners and Swiss Olympic to hold receptions, media conferences and winners’ parties, as well as to entertain clients. The House of Switzerland is one of the few national houses that are open to the general public during the Games.

In 2008 and 2010 China will host two of the most important events in the international calendar: the Summer Olympics in Beijing and the World Expo in Shanghai. In the interests of intensifying and consolidating bilateral relations, Switzerland is keen to step up its presence in China during both these events.

The “House of Switzerland 2008, China” and the Swiss Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai will be the major Swiss meeting points.

Switzerland will work closely with its Chinese counterparts to organise interesting projects and special events in fields such as education, science, business, art and culture, as well as tourism.
From the first round-the-world trip by solar-powered taxi to innovative architectural exhibitions, visitors will be astounded at what Switzerland and China have to offer. Check out Swiss projects and events in China in the special photo gallery at www.chinchina.org.

As the days grow longer and warmer, Switzerland slowly starts to come out of hibernation. What better reason could there be to celebrate? Throughout the summer, the Swiss cultural scene will be positively buzzing: open air concerts, yodelling festivals and traditional Swiss wresting competitions, not to mention various jazz and film festivals. Take a closer look and discover another side to Switzerland this summer!

Switzerland Tourism – Summer festivals

DVD – Customs and Traditions in Switzerland