China’s Li Qiang to attend World Economic Forum in Davos as Beijing pushes for economic recovery
- Chinese premier to address opening ceremony of annual meeting that will be attended by about 60 senior political leaders
- After the Davos summit, Li will pay official visits to Switzerland and Ireland as Beijing kicks off ‘high-level exchange’ with Europe
Li is expected to lead a large business and government delegation to the Swiss resort, where he will address the opening ceremony on Monday, according to Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
He will be the most senior Chinese official to join the annual gathering in person since President Xi Jinping attended in 2017.
Speaking at the daily press conference in Beijing, Mao said Li’s attendance came against the backdrop of global geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
Mao said China hoped to join other parties at the forum to “strengthen communication and enhance mutual understanding and trust to push forward the economic recovery of the world and to improve global economic governance”.
About 60 senior political leaders, as well as some 1,600 business leaders, are expected to attend the annual forum, which bears the theme “Rebuilding Trust”.