The 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting commenced in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions. Under the theme \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age\", leaders from around the globe are convening to address urgent global challenges and emphasize the importance of collaboration.
With over 60 heads of state and government in attendance, the forum is set to tackle critical topics such as geopolitical tensions, the accelerating climate crisis, and the rapid technological transformation impacting artificial intelligence and automation in the global economy. The gathering aims to drive meaningful dialogue, find common ground, and seize opportunities to effect positive change on today's most pressing issues.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang underscored the significance of cooperation in promoting economic globalization during his address at the forum. \"Through cooperation to promote economic globalization, we will usher in a more vibrant, advanced, and sustainable new stage. I believe we have the wisdom and capability to find mutually beneficial cooperation through communication and consultation,\" he stated.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the call for global collaboration. \"We will need to work together to avoid a global race to the bottom. Because it is in no one's interest to break the bonds in the global economy,\" she emphasized in her speech.
Prior to the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab highlighted the necessity of renewed cooperation amidst growing global divisions. He called for a spirit of optimism and collaboration, stating that the 2025 meeting aims to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future in the emerging intelligent era. \"Despite divergent positions and great uncertainties, the Annual Meeting 2025 will foster a spirit of cooperation and constructive optimism with the objective of shaping the forthcoming Intelligent Age in a more sustainable and inclusive way,\" Schwab remarked.
Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the WEF, also addressed the importance of strong global governance in the face of rapid technological change. He highlighted China's contributions in areas such as economic growth, innovation, and environmental sustainability, underlining the importance of inclusive international collaboration.
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