The 2025 edition of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Annual Meeting commenced on Monday in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions. Under the theme \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age,\" global leaders and experts convened to address pressing challenges requiring urgent international collaboration.
The event focuses on critical topics ranging from geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to the rapid transformation brought by artificial intelligence and automation in the global economy. Over 60 heads of state and government, along with business executives and thought leaders, aim to drive meaningful dialogue, find common ground, and seize opportunities for positive change.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted the importance of cooperation in advancing 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,\" 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 also underscored the necessity of 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.
Prior to the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab emphasized that growing divisions in the world call for renewed cooperation, advocating for a spirit of optimism and collaboration.
\"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 expressed.
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 significance of inclusive international collaboration, as reported by China Media Group News Radio.
Reference(s):
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