President Xi Jinping’s appearance at the World Economic Forum next week highlights China’s growing influence and power [Xinhua]
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos next week – the first ever such endeavor for a Chinese head of state – as part of an official visit to Switzerland.
The Chinese government said Xi’s attendance would emphasize Beijing’s support for multilateralism – a core concept of its founding ideal for the BRICS bloc – global cooperation and free trade, local media reported.
“We are all aware that we are now in the transition in the world to a multilateral, to a multipolar, geopolitical and geo-economic structure,” World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab said on Tuesday.
“China will equal the United States soon as far as economic power is concerned,” Schwab added.
The Davos forum will coincide with the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump who has advocated for a return of isolationist policies and a repeal of several trade agreements including the Trans-Pacific Partnership during his election campaign.
The presidents of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and South Africa also are expected to attend the forum, as well as British Prime Minister Theresa May.
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