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,\" global leaders, business executives, and experts gathered to address the urgent need for collaboration to tackle shared challenges.
Over 60 heads of state and government are attending the forum to engage in meaningful dialogue on critical topics ranging from geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to rapid technological transformations impacting artificial intelligence and automation in the global economy.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang underscored 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 said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the call 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 stated in her speech.
Prior to the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab emphasized that growing divisions in the world require renewed cooperation. He called for a spirit of optimism and collaboration, stating 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 said.
Jeremy Jurgens, the 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.
The forum's agenda reflects a recognition that global challenges require collective action. With leaders from around the world converging in Davos, the emphasis is on finding common ground and seizing opportunities to make positive changes on today's most pressing issues.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
