The 2025 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) opened on Monday in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions to discuss the urgent need for global collaboration in addressing shared challenges.
Under the theme \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age,\" the event focuses on critical issues ranging from geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to rapid technological transformations and their impact on artificial intelligence and automation in the global economy.
Over 60 heads of state and government, alongside political leaders, business executives, and experts, are convening to drive meaningful dialogue, find common ground, and seize opportunities for positive change on today's most pressing global issues.
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 said.
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 stated in her speech.
Prior to the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab called for renewed cooperation amidst growing global divisions, urging a spirit of optimism and collaboration. He expressed that the 2025 meeting aims to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future in the emerging Intelligent Age.
\"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 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.
