The 2025 edition of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting 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 gathered to address pressing challenges and emphasize the urgent need for international collaboration.
With over 60 heads of state and government in attendance, the forum aims to foster meaningful dialogue on critical topics ranging from geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to rapid technological transformation and its impact on artificial intelligence and automation on the global economy.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted 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,\" he stated, acknowledging the challenges in advancing economic globalization.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also underscored the necessity of global cooperation. \"We will need to work together to avoid a global race to the bottom. It is in no one's interest to break the bonds in the global economy,\" she remarked in her speech.
WEF Founder Klaus Schwab emphasized that the growing divisions within 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, 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.
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