U.S. President Donald Trump will be among a record 70 heads of state or governments attending this year’s World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine village of Davos. More than 3,000 participants from more than 110 countries will participate in this high-powered event between January 23 and 26.
President Trump will be rubbing shoulders with hundreds of the world’s most powerful and influential political and business leaders, heads of major international organizations and civil society.
The theme of this year’s meeting, “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World,” aims to explore the growing divisions in the world order and seek solutions for healing this dangerous global rift.
World Economic Forum Founder, Klaus Schwab, says the nations are moving out of the global financial and economic crisis. But he warns that the world is stuck in a perilous social crisis that will require an unparalleled global effort to overcome.
“A second big issue in Davos will certainly be the future of global cooperation related to trade, environment, the fight against terrorism, tax systems, competitiveness. And, in this context, it is absolutely essential to have President Trump with us,” he said.
Schwab says Davos is a mirror of a multipolar world, reflecting the rising and promising power of developing or emerging countries. He notes that one-third of the participants at this year’s meeting come from these nations.
The importance of this new reality is seen in the choice of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to deliver the opening address in Davos. India, the world’s biggest democracy, also is the fastest growing economy among the G-20 countries.
The leader of the most powerful country on earth, President Trump, will deliver a keynote address before the close of the four-day meeting.
