China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on 16 January that Vice-Premier He Lifeng will head to Switzerland from 19-22 January to attend the 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos before holding bilateral talks in Bern and Zurich. It will be the highest-ranking Chinese visit to Switzerland since 2017 and coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the Sino-Swiss Free-Trade Agreement. (global.chinadaily.com.cn)
Swiss authorities expect a late-surge of accompanying business delegations, putting extra pressure on visa-application centres in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou this week. The State Secretariat for Migration has already issued a notice reminding travellers that biometrics captured for the EU Entry/Exit System must match passport data exactly, following several recent cases of mismatched Pinyin spellings leading to border delays at Zurich Airport.
![Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng to Lead Davos Delegation, Heightening Demand for Switzerland’s Diplomatic and Travel Services]()
If the queues at consulates look daunting, VisaHQ can step in: the company’s digital platform helps applicants complete Swiss Schengen forms, book biometric appointments and track passport logistics end-to-end—often without needing multiple in-person visits. Full service details are available at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/.
For multinational companies, the vice-premier’s attendance signals Beijing’s interest in reinvigorating outbound investment discussions stalled during the pandemic; meeting rooms in Davos and nearby St. Gallen are reportedly at capacity. Firms planning side-events should anticipate higher hotel rates, stricter security sweeps on the A13 and A28 highways, and temporary drone restrictions over the Landwasser Valley.
Global-mobility teams moving staff into Davos are advised to arrange Schengen visa issuance or renewal no later than 17 January and to confirm accommodation allocations, as cantonal police will impose perimeter controls that limit last-minute transfers. Visa-exempt passport holders should still register travel details with their corporate security provider to ensure inclusion on WEF security lists.
Swiss authorities expect a late-surge of accompanying business delegations, putting extra pressure on visa-application centres in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou this week. The State Secretariat for Migration has already issued a notice reminding travellers that biometrics captured for the EU Entry/Exit System must match passport data exactly, following several recent cases of mismatched Pinyin spellings leading to border delays at Zurich Airport.
If the queues at consulates look daunting, VisaHQ can step in: the company’s digital platform helps applicants complete Swiss Schengen forms, book biometric appointments and track passport logistics end-to-end—often without needing multiple in-person visits. Full service details are available at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/.
For multinational companies, the vice-premier’s attendance signals Beijing’s interest in reinvigorating outbound investment discussions stalled during the pandemic; meeting rooms in Davos and nearby St. Gallen are reportedly at capacity. Firms planning side-events should anticipate higher hotel rates, stricter security sweeps on the A13 and A28 highways, and temporary drone restrictions over the Landwasser Valley.
Global-mobility teams moving staff into Davos are advised to arrange Schengen visa issuance or renewal no later than 17 January and to confirm accommodation allocations, as cantonal police will impose perimeter controls that limit last-minute transfers. Visa-exempt passport holders should still register travel details with their corporate security provider to ensure inclusion on WEF security lists.
