Global leaders call for collaboration, multilateralism at WEF annual meeting

Global leaders at the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland have called for concerted efforts to address the most pressing issues facing the world and to uphold multilateralism.

Themed "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age," the event this year has brought together nearly 3,000 business and political leaders from over 130 countries.

In a speech delivered at the event's official opening ceremony on Tuesday, Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, highlighted the growing erosion of trust in societies worldwide.

Schwab called for a united global effort to rebuild this trust, emphasizing that addressing existential fears, particularly among marginalized communities and those concerned about environmental degradation, is crucial to shaping a better future.

"This can only be achieved if we genuinely address the existential fears of so many -- the fears of marginalized, the fears of those who are afraid of accelerating environmental degradation, and the fears of those who worry about being left out in the transition to the intelligent age," Schwab stated.

Other key global figures, including President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also delivered special addresses.

Ding emphasized the critical role of globalization and multilateralism in fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future.

"Economic globalization is a result of social progress and technological advances, and it cannot be stopped. Protectionism does not solve problems, and trade wars help no one. We should take every chance to guide economic globalization, and move it toward a better stage that is more vibrant, inclusive and sustainable," Ding said.

The WEF annual meeting comes at a time when the world faces significant challenges. Earlier this month, the WEF released its Global Risks Report 2025, identifying key threats for the coming decade, including misinformation, rising geopolitical tensions, and the escalating climate crisis. The report stresses the need for urgent, collective action to address these global risks.

Five people granted honorary titles of 'model guardians of nature' in China shared their stories of contributing to nature conservation at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

Centering on the theme "cherishing natural resources and preserving a beautiful China," the five nature guardians discussed their practical experiences across fields including farmland protection, geodetic surveying, geothermal resource exploration, marine observation, and ecological protection and restoration.