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 are convening to address the pressing need for international collaboration to tackle shared challenges.
With over 60 heads of state and government in attendance, the forum aims to foster meaningful dialogue on critical issues such as geopolitical tensions, the accelerating climate crisis, and the rapid technological transformations affecting artificial intelligence and automation in the global economy.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted the importance of cooperation in advancing 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,\" 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. Because it is in no one's interest to break the bonds in the global economy,\" she remarked in her address.
Prior to the opening of the meeting, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab emphasized the necessity of renewed cooperation amidst growing global divisions. He advocated for a spirit of optimism and collaboration, noting that the 2025 meeting seeks 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, underscored the importance of strong global governance in the face of rapid technological change. He highlighted the contributions of the Chinese mainland in areas such as economic growth, innovation, and environmental sustainability, emphasizing the significance of inclusive international collaboration.
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