- The World Economic Forum and China’s National Development and Reform Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop closer collaboration
- Agreement follows 10 years of close partnership, including China hosting the Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions
- Signing ceremony witnessed by President Xi Jinping and Forum Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab in Davos
The World Economic Forum has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on behalf of the Chinese government. The document commits both parties to developing deeper collaboration over a period of 10 years.
The World Economic Forum and the NDRC have established a strong relationship over the past decade, cooperating closely since 2007 on the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in China, also known as the “Summer Davos”. During this time, the meeting has become the world’s leading event on science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
China sent its first delegation to Davos in 1979. Today, building on the longstanding relationship between the Forum and China, this MoU opens a new chapter of deepened partnership across a wide range of strategic priorities. These include improving global economic governance, international cooperation on “Belt and Road” initiatives and green and low-carbon development, as well as technological innovation and preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
In the MoU, the two sides agree to establish a new collaboration platform, continue to expand the scope of collaboration and increasingly enhance the content of collaboration. Building on the Annual Meeting of the New Champions as the core of that cooperation, the two parties will strengthen ongoing communication and consultation on a range of topics and activities that are critical for China and global sustainable development in the foreseeable future.
“The Forum gathers the world’s insights and builds platforms for public-private cooperation to tackle today’s global challenges in which China’s participation and its valuable experience in opening-up and reform are essential. A deeper cooperation between the Forum and China will be not only a win-win for both of us, but also beneficial for better understanding and collaboration of the international community at large,” said David Aikman, Chief Representative Officer, China, and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum.
China’s President Xi Jinping and the Forum’s Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab were witnesses at the signing ceremony, which was held on the first day of the Annual Meeting, with signatures of Xu Shaoshi, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, and Alois Zwinggi, Head of Operations and Resources at the World Economic Forum.
“Through China’s participation in the ‘Winter Davos’ and hosting the ‘Summer Davos’, the world gets a fuller picture of the country in terms of its development and achievements in economy, opening-up reform, science, technology and innovation. It also enables Chinese companies to gain access to advanced management ideas, find global partners and better integrate into the international market. We look forward to deeper cooperation with the Forum in the coming decade and to working together with the international community to find solutions to the major challenges facing the world today,” said Xu Shaoshi, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.
The 47th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is taking place on 17-20 January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, under the theme Responsive and Responsible Leadership. More than 3,000 participants from nearly 100 countries will participate in over 400 sessions. Xi Jinping spoke at the Opening Plenary today with a special address. He is China’s first head of state to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting accompanied by a high-level delegation.
The 11th Annual Meeting of the New Champions will be held in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, on 27-29 June 2017.
