2024-01-16 14:00:53
The latest developments
This week government representatives, CEOs and envoys from international organizations are meeting in the Graubünden mountains. The focus of the 54th WEF is the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky speaks at the WEF in Davos.
Denis Balibouse / Archyde.com
The latest developments:
- The Ukrainian president gave a speech to a packed convention center at the WEF on Tuesday followingnoon. He spoke in English and, as expected, called for greater support for Ukraine in the war once morest Russia. Zelenski appealed to the WEF participants and said: “We need all of you.” No other European country has an army that can stand up to Putin. If Putin is not stopped, the whole of Europe will soon have to fight once morest him. Putin will not change. He then answered questions from WEF President Børge Brende in Ukrainian. He said that an important step towards peace had been taken in Switzerland. And: “Peace must be the answer.” For transmission
- Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang appeared at the start of the WEF in Davos on Tuesday morning. In his speech, he took up this year’s theme of the forum: “Restoring trust”. He spoke regarding the achievements of China’s economy, saying it grew by 5.2 percent in 2023. He also made five suggestions on how we might work better together globally in the future. He encouraged economic actors to invest in the Chinese economy. People are aware that the Chinese economy is being closely watched, he said. But: “China is a country you can trust.”
- Immediately following Li Qiang’s speech, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took the stage at the congress center in Davos. Like Li Qiang, she spoke regarding trust – but trust in democracy. She said the World Economic Forum was more important this year than in previous years. “We must strengthen global cooperation.” Von der Leyen addressed, among other things, climate change, the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine and the challenges of artificial intelligence.
- The World Economic Forum was opened on Tuesday morning by Federal President Viola Amherd and WEF founder Klaus Schwab. The special thing regarding the WEF is that people think across the board, said Schwab in the introduction. “We have to take action”. Federal President Viola Amherd said in her opening speech that human rights were being pushed back worldwide. “Democracy is undergoing a global review.” And she appealed to the WEF participants. You would have the opportunity to take responsibility.
- This week, 2,800 government representatives, CEOs, board presidents and envoys from international organizations from 120 countries, including 60 heads of state, are meeting in Davos. The theme of the 54th edition of the World Economic Forum is: “Restoring trust”.
Reading recommendations
- The world is changing, and the founder of the WEF, Klaus Schwab, is where he wants to be most: at the center of it all. To the portrait
- 3,800 francs as a friendship prize: Locals in Davos drive up prices for apartments and shops at the WEF. To the report
- Everyone comes to Davos, only the Russians are not allowed. Will the WEF still be a glimmer of hope for a ceasefire in Ukraine? To the report
Even before the WEF began, there were several meetings with high-profile government representatives in Switzerland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang stopped in Bern on Monday for talks with the Federal Councilors. On Sunday, representatives of 83 countries discussed peace in Ukraine.
Federal President Viola Amherd received Li Qiang with military honors at the Lohn estate near Bern on Monday morning before they retreated for official talks. Both sides appreciated the fact that contacts at the highest level were taking place once more following the pandemic, as Amherd’s Defense Department (VBS) subsequently announced. Bern and Beijing want to negotiate an expansion of the free trade agreement. To the report
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis received Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky at Zurich Airport on Monday followingnoon. In the followingnoon, talks took place in Bern, which were also attended by Federal President Viola Amherd and Justice Minister Beat Jans. Amherd then told the media that Switzerland was ready to organize a peace summit on the war in Ukraine. A corresponding request from Selenski was answered positively.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Selenski and Federal President Viola Amherd address the media following talks at the Lohn estate in Kehrsatz.
Alessandro Della Valle / Keystone
According to Amherd, the EDA will take over the organization of the summit. In addition, a conference is scheduled to take place in Geneva in October 2024 to promote the clearance of landmines. Switzerland is planning an aid package of 1.5 billion francs to further support Ukraine. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, planning for the peace summit should begin on Tuesday. Zelensky also said that all countries that recognized Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty should be invited. Zelenskiy specifically hopes that China will take part in the summit. Our comment on this
On Sunday (January 14), national security advisors from more than 80 countries discussed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s ten-point plan. Switzerland invited people to do so. It is a success that 83 countries took part in developing a common understanding regarding the ten points, said Ignazio Cassis at a press conference on Sunday followingnoon. Cassis described Zelensky’s ten-point plan as the basis for the peace process. Andri Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said at the end of the conference in the evening that the talks had been “encouraging”. The presentation of the individual ten points is now complete. To the report
The WEF in Davos is a major challenge for the security forces. The tense geopolitical situation and the threat situation require increased deployment of police and army personnel.
The airspace over Davos has been closed since January 12th. Switzerland works closely with Italy and Austria. In addition, members of the army have built a 250 kilometer long protective fence around Davos.
The police are supported by around 5,000 army personnel. Half of the emergency services are on site. Cyber specialists, snipers and dog handlers are deployed.
The canton of Graubünden and the municipality of Davos bear the brunt of the costs for the security precautions. According to the federal government, the additional costs amount to around 9 million francs. This supports this with 2.55 million francs.
This year’s World Economic Forum aims to enable open dialogue between governments, the private sector and civil society and accelerate collaboration between public and private organizations. The goal: to keep an overview in a world that is becoming increasingly complex and full of crises – and to look for solutions together.
The WEF 2024 has four main themes:
- Security and collaboration: Numerous events are planned that revolve around current security crises such as those in the Middle East or Ukraine. Among others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang will give speeches. Selenski was already the topic of discussion in Davos on Sunday: 83 countries discussed Selenski’s ten-point plan at a conference at the invitation of Switzerland.
- Growth and jobs: Davos will also discuss how economic growth can be ensured in the coming decade and new jobs can be created. Panels and speeches are planned on topics such as economic inequality, sustainable investments and supply chains of the future.
- Artificial intelligence: Advances in artificial intelligence have kept business and politics busy over the past year. AI will also be a big topic at the WEF.
- Climate, nature and energy: As in previous years, leaders at the WEF will also focus on climate change and energy supply.
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab at a meeting of business representatives in the Chinese city of Tianjin in June 2023.
Tingshu Wang/Archyde.com
The World Economic Forum has existed since 1971. Klaus Schwab, who was an economics professor at the University of Geneva at the time, founded it. The original purpose of the event was to discuss modern management concepts. Politicians have only taken part in the meeting since 1994, and the WEF has officially had the status of an international organization in Switzerland since 2015. Around a thousand companies are members and pay high contributions.
The governing body of the World Economic Forum consists of some well-known personalities: members include IMF Director Kristalina Georgiewa, former American Vice President Al Gore, ECB President Christine Lagarde, WTO Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Queen Rania of Jordan and the Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider.
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