The 9th World Investment Forum opened Sunday in Doha, Qatar, with global economic leaders calling for strengthened multilateral cooperation and stable supply chains amid rising geopolitical tensions and trade protectionism.
A high-level meeting titled "Rebuilding Global Value Chains for Growth and Resilience" was held on the same day.
As geopolitical tensions, trade protectionism, and technological competition reshape global supply chains, participants stressed the importance of upholding multilateralism and free trade.
John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, highlighted China's crucial role in this effort.
"Absolutely fundamental. What's really critical is to know that China talks about effective multilateralism, that it acts in a way, particularly in its economic reforms," said Denton.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the need for the organization to modernize its rules and institutions in response to a changing trade environment, ensuring that businesses can continue to operate under multilateral trade frameworks.
"All the members of the WTO have a role to play in stabilizing global trade. It is our responsibility, the responsibility of the members to try to maintain the rules that work well in order to have a call, because that helps businesses to have some predictability," said Iweala.
Organized by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and hosted by Qatar, the three-day forum, themed "Investing in the Future," is attended by the prime ministers of Qatar, Lesotho, Libya and Madagascar, four deputy prime ministers and nearly 50 government ministers.
More than 80 sessions featuring over 400 speakers will cover investment policies, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, sustainable finance, climate change, tourism and emerging industries.
World Investment Forum calls for strengthened multilateral cooperation
World Investment Forum calls for strengthened multilateral cooperation
