The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 opened earlier this week in Davos, Switzerland, uniting nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries and regions. Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, economic headwinds, and rapid tech shifts, attendees have rallied around this year’s theme, “A Spirit of Dialogue.”
Converging Risks and Slowing Growth
In its Global Risks Report 2026, the WEF identifies geoeconomic confrontation as the top short-term risk for this year, followed by interstate conflict, extreme weather events, societal polarization, and misinformation. Economic risks, driven by asset valuation concerns, mounting debt, and trade frictions, are rising faster than any other category.
The WEF’s Chief Economists’ Outlook found that 53% of leading economists expect global economic conditions to weaken over the coming months. Their worries echo the United Nations’ World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026, which forecasts global growth of 2.7% in 2026—down from an estimated 2.8% in 2025—and warns that tight fiscal space and weaker investment could drag trade growth below 2.2% next year.
“We are most worried about major escalations of wars. That can kill global growth,” said WEF President and CEO Borge Brende, noting that avoiding such escalations could allow the world to exceed 3% growth in 2026.
Tech Transformations and New Opportunities
On the sidelines of Davos, discussions have zeroed in on a technological paradigm shift, from AI and quantum computing to next-generation biotech and clean energy systems. While these breakthroughs promise fresh growth engines and productivity gains, they also pose social risks, such as worker displacement and digital divides.
Dialogue as an Urgent Necessity
The WEF’s Global Cooperation Barometer shows that, despite headwinds, international cooperation remains resilient yet insufficient. “Dialogue is not a luxury in times of uncertainty; it is an urgent necessity,” Brende told delegates, stressing that constructive conversation is the first step toward shared solutions.
Larry Fink, interim co-chair of the WEF, added that gathering a record number of business, government, and NGO leaders underscores how vital it is to understand diverse perspectives to drive inclusive prosperity.
The Chinese Mainland’s Role in Global Growth
As the world’s second-largest economy, the Chinese mainland continues to be a major engine of global growth. Experts point to its booming frontier-tech investments and sustainable infrastructure projects as key contributors to post-pandemic recovery.
“Technologies can represent huge opportunities for productivity gains and also growth in the years to come. And the Chinese mainland is a major contributor to that,” Brende said.
Li Nan, director of the Division on Investment and Enterprise at UNCTAD, highlighted how enterprises from the Chinese mainland are pioneering clean-energy and digital-economy investments that align with sustainable development goals and fuel confidence in long-term stability.
Against growing polarization and fragmentation, Davos 2026 has made one message clear: forging dialogue across divides remains the most powerful tool to navigate today’s crises and unlock tomorrow’s opportunities.
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Davos 2026 calls for dialogue amid rising global risks, slowing growth
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