The 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) commenced in Davos, Switzerland, on Monday, drawing nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions. Under the theme \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age,\" global leaders, business executives, and experts are gathering to address the urgent need for collaboration in tackling shared challenges.
With over 60 heads of state and government in attendance, the forum aims to facilitate meaningful dialogue on critical issues ranging from geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to rapid technological transformations impacting artificial intelligence and automation.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted the significance 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,\" 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.\"
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the call for global collaboration. \"We will need to work together to avoid a global race to the bottom,\" she said. \"Because it is in no one's interest to break the bonds in the global economy.\"
Prior to the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab emphasized the necessity of renewed cooperation amidst growing global divisions. He expressed hope that the 2025 meeting would foster 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 remarked.
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.
Reference(s):
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