The 54th annual meeting of World Economic Forum (WEF) kicked off in Davos, Switzerland, with the overarching theme of “Rebuilding Trust.” Bringing together more than 2,800 participants from 120 countries across business, politics, academia, and civil society, the forum aimed to address pressing global challenges amidst geopolitical tensions and rapid technological advancements. Emphasising the necessity of international collaboration, WEF identified six critical themes: economic resilience, energy transformation, globalisation, productive artificial intelligence, strengthening institutions, and women’s health.
Notable attendees included prominent figures such as China’s Vice Premier Li Qiang, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as leaders from international bodies and civil society groups. High-level diplomatic discussions on ending conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine were slated to top the agenda, with WEF President Borge Brende emphasising the importance of addressing crises in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Africa.
Against a backdrop of complex geopolitical dynamics, global economic challenges, and rising debt levels, the forum aimed to confront heightened division and hostility worldwide. Amidst unprecedented pessimism fuelled by amplified challenges and setbacks, a pressing need emerged for comprehensive crisis management strategies. Despite past achievements in poverty reduction and living standards improvement, concerns about losing control over the future have driven people towards extreme ideologies.
All the views and opinions expressed are those of the author. Image Credit – World Economic Forum.
About the Author
Mareike Warmboldt is a staff writer at The Viyug. She is currently pursuing Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International/Global Studies at Leiden University, The Netherlands. She has been awarded the LUSTRA+ scholarship and undergoing an exchange semester outside of Europe at Thammasat University at Bangkok, Thailand. She was part of a project titled “Untraffick” that focused on future aspects of human security and global justice.
