The 2025 edition of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting opened in Davos, Switzerland, on Monday, drawing nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions. Under the theme \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age\", global leaders, business executives, and experts have gathered to address the urgent need for collaboration on shared challenges.
The event is poised to tackle critical topics ranging from escalating geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to the rapid technological transformation impacting artificial intelligence and automation within the global economy.
Over 60 heads of state and government are in attendance, engaging in meaningful dialogue to find common ground and drive positive change on some of the most pressing global issues of our time.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang emphasized the significance of cooperation in promoting economic globalization during his speech 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, and I also recognize the challenges in further advancing economic globalization,\" he stated.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also stressed the need for global cooperation. \"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 remarked in her speech.
Before the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab highlighted the growing divisions within the world and called for renewed cooperation. He emphasized a spirit of optimism and collaboration, aiming 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 said.
Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the WEF, 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.
Reference(s):
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