World Economic Forum opens in Davos with call for constructive dialogue amid differences

The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) opened on Monday in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, calling for constructive dialogue in a complex global landscape.

Under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," the five-day event has drawn nearly 3,000 leaders and experts worldwide to discuss five pressing global challenges, including enhancing cooperation, unlocking new sources of growth and deploying innovation at scale and responsibly.

Mirek Dusek, managing director of the WEF, emphasized that in a world marked by intensifying geopolitical tensions, fragmentation and rapid technological advancements, the meeting remains an inclusive platform for bridging differences through dialogue.

"This place has always been very important for dialogue, and so that's what we are building on. But we are also sending a message that, of course, now we are in a much more competitive, contested world, and that in this kind of environment, having dialogue and engagement is even more important," said Dusek.

A series of publications released by the WEF in the lead-up to the meeting indicated rising risks and downward pressure on the global economy in an increasingly contested and fragmented world.

The latest Chief Economists' Outlook pointed out that while the global economic outlook has improved modestly, uncertainty remains. Factors such as shifting asset valuations, rising debt, geoeconomic realignment and the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence are expected to continue impacting the world economy.

The Chief Economists' Outlook summarizes the emerging contours of the current economic environment. The quarterly report incorporates the latest policy research and the results of a Forum survey with leading chief economists from both the public and private sectors.

-China Central Television (CCTV)/Reuters