As the snow-capped mountains of Davos welcomed participants, the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting began on Monday, drawing nearly 3,000 attendees from 130 countries and regions. Under the theme \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age,\" global leaders convened to address the pressing need for collaboration in tackling shared challenges.
Over 60 heads of state and government, along with political leaders, business executives, and experts, are set to engage in dialogues on critical issues such as geopolitical tensions, the accelerating climate crisis, and the rapid technological transformation impacting artificial intelligence and automation in the global economy.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang emphasized the importance of unity in promoting economic globalization during his address to 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.\"
Echoing this sentiment, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for global cooperation to prevent economic fragmentation.
\"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.
WEF Founder Klaus Schwab highlighted the necessity of renewed cooperation amid growing global divisions, urging 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 said.
Jeremy Jurgens, WEF's Managing Director, stressed the importance of strong global governance in the face of rapid technological change. He acknowledged contributions from various nations, including China, in areas such as economic growth, innovation, and environmental sustainability, underscoring the value of inclusive international collaboration.
Reference(s):
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