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.
UN Secretary General António Guterres called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine in a speech at the WEF.
The latest developments:
- occurred on Wednesday morning the UN Secretary General António Guterres in the congress center in Davos and wreiterated its call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. And he called for peace in Ukraine. Guterres also spoke about the challenges of two major issues of our time: climate change and artificial intelligence. Both topics are being discussed worldwide, said Guterres. However, effective strategies for dealing with it were lacking. According to Guterres, geopolitical tensions prevented effective international cooperation.
- American Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the war in the Middle East during a panel discussion. What is needed is a Palestinian state that gives the people what they want and works with Israel. Blinken said: “The suffering breaks my heart.”
- Talk in the afternoon Argentine President Javier Milei and the French President Emmanuel Macron in front of the WEF participants.
- This week, 2,800 government representatives, CEOs, chairmen of boards of directors and envoys from international organizations from 120 countries are meeting in Davos, including 60 heads of state. The theme of the 54th edition of the World Economic Forum is: “Restoring trust”.
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- Switzerland wants to organize a conference to end the war in Ukraine. Is Switzerland overestimating itself? The most important questions and answers
- 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
On Tuesday (April 17th), the first official WEF day, three high-profile guests gave a speech. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the second most powerful man in China, appeared at the opening event. He talked about the achievements of the Chinese economy and advocated multilateralism, stability and greater cooperation between the Chinese and Western economies. But he left the pressing questions unanswered. To the report
Li Qiang during his speech on Tuesday morning in Davos.
Immediately after Li Qiang’s speech, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke. 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.
On Tuesday afternoon, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared in front of a crowded congress center and thrilled the audience with a powerful speech delivered in English. Zelenski appealed to the WEF participants and said: “We need all of you.” The message that the Ukrainian president spread in Davos was uncompromising. In Zelensky’s reading, peace in the world can only be achieved by a victory for Ukraine, which leads to the end of Vladimir Putin. 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 again after 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 afternoon. In the afternoon, 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 after talks at the Lohn estate in Kehrsatz.
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 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 afternoon. 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 topics:
- 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.
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.