The 2025 World Economic Forum (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,\" the gathering seeks to address urgent global challenges through enhanced collaboration.
The event focuses on critical issues ranging from geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to rapid technological transformations, particularly the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the global economy. Over 60 heads of state and government, alongside political leaders, business executives, and experts, are participating in discussions aimed at fostering meaningful dialogue, finding common ground, and seizing opportunities to drive positive change.
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 highlighted 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.
Prior to the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab expressed concern over growing divisions within the world and called for renewed cooperation. He emphasized the need for 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.
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