The 2025 edition of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting commenced on Monday in Davos, Switzerland, drawing nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions. The gathering emphasizes the urgent need for global collaboration to address shared challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.
Under the theme \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age,\" the event sets the stage for critical discussions on topics ranging from escalating geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to the rapid technological transformations impacting artificial intelligence and automation within the global economy.
Over 60 heads of state and government are participating alongside political leaders, business executives, and experts. Their collective aim is to foster meaningful dialogue, find common ground, and seize opportunities to enact positive changes addressing today's most pressing global issues.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted the pivotal role 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. 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 remarked.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also stressed the necessity 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 stated.
Prior to the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab underscored the importance of renewed cooperation amid growing global divisions. He called for a spirit of optimism and collaboration, emphasizing 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 affirmed.
Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the WEF, addressed the significance of robust global governance in the face of rapid technological change. He highlighted China's contributions in areas such as economic growth, innovation, and environmental sustainability, emphasizing the importance of inclusive international collaboration.
Reference(s):
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