Zürich is currently a prosperous city whose qualities are recognised far and wide in the world. However, the City of Zürich is facing a number of challenges not only caused by the current global recession.

To be well prepared to face these future challenges, the city needs to further develop its current strengths, eliminate its weaknesses and actively deal with any possible risks. Of key importance is the need to ensure the economic foundation.

By means of "Strategies for Zürich in 2025", the city has defined aims and fields of operation for its long-term development and laid out its vision of Zürich as a sustainably focused metropolis.

In 2025, Zürich will be:

• an aesthetically pleasing city in terms of lay-out with carefully nurtured natural landscapes
• a city with optimal quality of life, excellent culture and infrastructure facilities and environmental conditions
• a city that networks beyond its boundaries and which exudes tolerance and openness
• a lively urban centre and an attractive place to live with a varied population
• a financial centre of international significance and an innovative location for knowledge and science
• the home of a labour market which has possibilities for people with various different qualifications
• a city which has sufficient jobs for the populace
• a city with social networks that are stable and can be financed
• a city where people feel safe
• a city with attractive public transport possibilities and optimised traffic management
• a city which takes its social, ecological and energy policy responsibilities seriously and sets an example in the way in which it does business
• a strong partner for the surrounding area and for Switzerland as a whole.