Leaders from around the world convened on Monday in Davos, Switzerland, for the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), where nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions gathered to emphasize the urgent need for global collaboration in addressing shared challenges.
Under the theme \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age,\" the meeting is set to tackle critical issues ranging from geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to rapid technological transformation, particularly the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the global economy.
More than 60 heads of state and government, alongside political leaders, business executives, and experts, have come together to engage in meaningful dialogue, find common ground, and seize opportunities to effect positive change on some of the most pressing global issues of our time.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted the significance of cooperation in promoting economic globalization during his address to the forum. \"Through cooperation to promote economic globalization, we will usher in a more vibrant, advanced, and sustainable new stage,\" he stated. \"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.\"
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this sentiment, emphasizing 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 said in her speech.
Prior to the opening of the meeting, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab underscored the growing divisions within the world and called for renewed cooperation. He urged 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 remarked.
Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of 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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