The 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will begin this Monday in the Swiss winter center of Davos, where more than 2,800 global leaders from the world of politics and business, from 120 countries, will gather, and this year’s theme is “Rebuilding Trust”. The annual meeting for the year 2024, which takes place from January 15 to 19, will bring together representatives of more than 100 governments, all leading international organizations, 100 partner companies of the Forum, as well as leaders of civil society, leading experts, today’s generation of young people, social entrepreneurs and the media, according to the Forum’s website.
More than 300 public figures will participate this year, including more than 69 heads of state or government. All key regions in the world will be represented at a high level.
With the announced participation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French President Emmanuel Macron and key Middle Eastern leaders, talks on ending the war in Gaza and Ukraine continue, at the top of the agenda of the global elite in Davos.
The 54th meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place in the most complicated geopolitical environment so far, Forum President Borge Brende said on Tuesday.
Among the leading political leaders who will participate are the Prime Minister of China Li Jiang, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the President of Argentina Javier Milei, the Prime Minister of South Korea Han Duk-so, the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, the President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd for the year 2024.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the presidents of Colombia, Kenya, Poland and Israel – Gustavo Francisco Petro Urego, William Ruto, Andrzej Duda, Isak Herzog, as well as the prime ministers of Greece and Iraq Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Mohamed Shija Al Sudani will also participate.
In addition to Secretary of State Blinken, American National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and representatives of the US Senate and House of Representatives are coming to the meeting from the USA.
Among the heads of international organizations present will be UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgijeva, President of the World Bank Ajay Banga, Director General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okondjo-Iweala, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltemberg.
The program of the meeting includes the latest world events and the effort of the participants to work on finding innovative and practical solutions to problems.
This year’s meeting of the World Economic Forum is being held under the theme “Rebuilding Trust” to provide the necessary space to focus attention on the basic principles that foster trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability, according to the forum’s website.
The program is divided into four interrelated thematic priorities – Achieving security and cooperation in a fragmented world; creating growth and jobs for the New Era; artificial intelligence as a driving force for economy and society; long-term strategy for climate, nature and energy.
In the midst of growing divisions and uncertainties that continue to destabilize the world, leaders gathered at the Forum from various parts of the world and representatives of various industries will strive to achieve progress in dialogue, strengthen cooperation and deepen partnerships around critical global challenges, AP reports.
“We are faced with a fragmented world and growing divisions in society that lead to pervasive uncertainty and pessimism. We need to rebuild faith in the future by moving beyond crisis management, focusing on the root causes of current problems and building a more promising future together,” said Klaus Schwab, founder and CEO of the World Economic Forum.
