New Delhi/Davos:
The World Economic Forum (WEF)’s five-day online Davos Agenda summit kicks off tomorrow on January 17, with a special address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping as highlights of the first day.
The WEF annual meeting, which has been taking place in the Swiss ski resort of Davos for 50 years, was unable to take place in 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic and has been postponed to early summer this year.
However, the virtual ‘Davos Agenda’ summit was to be held for the second consecutive year on the dates originally scheduled for the physical annual meeting.
The week-long digital summit kicks off with a special speech from Mr. Jinping on Monday, followed by two virtual sessions – the first on COVID-19 and the second on technology collaboration in the fourth industrial revolution.
Mr Modi will deliver his special address on Monday evening, followed by the speech by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will deliver their respective special speeches on Tuesday (Jan. 18), when special sessions will also be held on global social contract and challenges of vaccine equality, attended by WHO chief Tedros. Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Serum Institute of India chief Adar Poonawalla, among others.
On Wednesday (19 January), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will give a special speech. In addition, there would be sessions on energy transition, scaling up climate innovation and prospects for Latin America.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Indonesian President Joko Widodo will deliver their special speeches on Thursday, when special sessions will be held on ESG (environmental, social and governance) metrics for a sustainable future; the next frontier for knowledge and action; and restoring confidence in global trade and supply chains.
On the final day, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will deliver their special speeches. In addition, there would be special sessions on the global economy, building future preparedness and accelerating a nature-positive economy.
Listed speakers for these sessions include US Treasury Secretary Janet L Yellen, IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.
The WEF has said that ‘Davos Agenda 2022’ will be the first global platform for key world leaders to share their visions for 2022 and is convened around the theme ‘The State of the World’.