Global financial cooperation has emerged as a critical priority at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, with leaders warning that economic fragmentation threatens to undermine decades of progress. Against the backdrop of strained international relations and shifting trade patterns, WEF Managing Director Matthew Blake told CGTN that capital flows, debt management systems, and digital payment infrastructure require urgent multilateral attention.
"The interconnectedness that fueled growth now risks becoming a vulnerability," Blake stated, noting that 2026 has seen increased regionalization of financial networks. Analysts point to Asia's expanding role as both a stabilizing force and innovation driver, with Southeast Asian digital payment platforms and Chinese mainland green financing initiatives attracting particular interest from delegates.
Business leaders highlighted opportunities in cross-border fintech partnerships, while economists cautioned that without coordinated regulation, blockchain adoption could deepen existing divides. The discussions come as APEC members prepare for February's emergency finance ministers' meeting in Singapore, seen as a crucial test for implementing Davos proposals.
