The 2025 edition of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting kicked off in Davos, Switzerland, with nearly 3,000 participants from 130 countries and regions gathering to discuss the urgent need for global collaboration.
The event, themed \"Cooperation in the Intelligent Age,\" is set to explore critical topics such as geopolitical tensions, the accelerating climate crisis, and the rapid technological transformation impacting the global economy through artificial intelligence and automation.
More than 60 heads of state and government are in attendance, alongside political leaders, business executives, and experts, all aiming to drive meaningful dialogue, find common ground, and seize opportunities to address today's most pressing global issues.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang highlighted the importance of cooperation in promoting economic globalization during his speech. “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 echoed the call for global cooperation, emphasizing the necessity to work together to avoid a global race to the bottom. “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.
Before the opening, WEF Founder Klaus Schwab addressed the growing divisions within the world, urging renewed cooperation with a spirit of optimism and collaboration. He expressed 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, the managing director of WEF, also 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 need for inclusive international collaboration.
Reference(s):
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