The 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting commenced on Monday in Davos, Switzerland, drawing nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions. The gathering, themed \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age,\" focuses on the urgent need for global collaboration to address shared challenges.
Over 60 heads of state and government, alongside political leaders, business executives, and experts, convened to engage in meaningful dialogue on critical topics. Discussions range from geopolitical tensions and the accelerating climate crisis to rapid technological transformations, particularly the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the global economy.
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 stated.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also underscored 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 said in her address.
Prior to the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab called for a renewed spirit of optimism and collaboration, highlighting that growing divisions in the world require renewed cooperation. 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 remarked.
WEF Managing Director Jeremy Jurgens 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.
The 2025 WEF meeting serves as a pivotal platform for leaders to find common ground and seize opportunities to effect positive change on today's most pressing global issues.
Reference(s):
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