Davos Forum Opens in D-1... Theme: 'Rebuilding Trust'

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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The World Economic Forum (WEF, Davos Forum) annual meeting will open on the 15th (local time) for a four-night, five-day schedule in Davos, Switzerland.

According to the Davos Forum organizers on the 14th, this year's 54th Davos Forum theme is "Rebuilding Trust."

This year's Davos Forum is being held amid heightened geopolitical tensions due to the nearly two-year-long Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas war, and attacks on Red Sea vessels by Yemeni rebels, so leaders from various countries are expected to brainstorm ways to ease tensions.

The event will host 60 heads of state from around the world, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of South Korea, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (EU).

United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres and heads of various UN agencies will also attend, along with representatives from international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

More than 2,800 participants, including major business figures such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the operator of the AI chatbot ChatGPT, academics, central bank governors, and minister-level officials from various countries, will gather to discuss global issues.

South Korea's Prime Minister will attend the event for the first time since 2009. Last year, President Yoon Suk-yeol personally attended the Davos Forum. Prime Minister Han will participate in key sessions such as restoring the global trust system, introduce South Korea's vision, and hold bilateral talks with major heads of state.

Following last year, many domestic business leaders will also attend this year. The three brothers from the Hanwha family?Kim Dong-kwan, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group; Kim Dong-won, President of Hanwha Life Insurance; and Kim Dong-sun, Vice President of Hanwha Galleria?will all attend together. Other attendees include Jung Ki-sun, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai; Heo Se-hong, President of GS Caltex; Cho Hyun-sang, Vice Chairman of Hyosung Group; and Choi Yoon-beom, Chairman of Korea Zinc. Samsung Electronics’ Jeon Kyung-hoon, head of Samsung Research; Shin Hak-cheol, Vice Chairman of LG Chem; Kim Geol, President of Hyundai Motor Company; and Yoo Byung-ok, Vice President of POSCO Holdings, are also on the attendee list. Domestic businesspeople are expected to focus on networking with influential global figures, monitoring global economic trends, and exploring business opportunities.

As with last year, the heads of state of the United States and China will not attend this year’s event. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend on behalf of President Joe Biden, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit the event to deliver a special speech instead of President Xi Jinping.

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