World Economic Forum,WEF
2020-07-27 22:55

【Establishment】The World Economic Forum was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation, by Klaus Schwab, a professor at the University of Geneva, Switzerland at that time.

【Objectives】WEF is committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation.

【Members】The membership of WEF includes more than 670 member companies of the world.

【Head of the Organization】Professor Klaus Schwab is the Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF.

【Headquarters】WEF headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

【Website】http://www.weforum.org

【Leadership and Governance】

(1) The Board of Trustees acts as guardians of WEF’s mission and values; and (2) The Managing Board acts as the executive body of WEF and ensures that activities fulfill the mission of the Forum and acts as its representative to outside parties.

【Major Events】

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (“Winter Davos Forum”) is held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, at the beginning of each calendar year, bring together the world’s academics, politicians, business, and media participants from dozens of countries. The WEF Annual Meeting of the New Champions (“Summer Davos Forum”) has been held each year in China since 2007, with Tianjin and Dalian taking turns to host. WEF also holds several regional summits each year.

【China’s Relationship with WEF】

China has maintained sound cooperation relations with WEF since 1979. In the first appearance of any Chinese head of state at WEF, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech titled “Jointly Shoulder Responsibility of Our Times, Promote Global Growth” at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting, making a strong case for advancing globalization which was of epoch-making significance. In addition, Chinese state leaders Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Lanqing, Wu Bangguo, Huang Ju, Zeng Peiyan, Hua Jianmin, Wen Jiabao, Li Keqiang, Li Yuanchao, Liu He, Wang Qishan, Han Zheng have led a delegation to the annual meeting and made speeches.

In September 2007, WEF Inaugural Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian, with the theme “The Shifting Power Equation”. In September 2008, the 2nd Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Tianjin, with the theme “The Next Wave of Growth”. In September 2009, the 3rd Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian, with the theme “Re-launching Growth”. In September 2010, the 4th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Tianjin, with the theme “Driving Growth through Sustainability”. In September 2011, the 5th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian, with the theme “Mastering Quality Growth”. In September 2012, the 6th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Tianjin, with the theme “Creating the Future Economy”. In September 2013, the 7th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian, with the theme “Meeting the Innovation Imperative”. In September 2014, the 8th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Tianjin, with the theme “Creating Value through Innovation”. In September 2015, the 9th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian, with the theme “Charting a New Course for Growth”. In June 2016, the 10th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Tianjin, with the theme “The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Its Transformational Impact”. In June 2017, the 11th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian, with the theme “Achieving Inclusive Growth in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. In September 2018, the 12th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Tianjin, with the theme “Shaping Innovative Societies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. In July 2019, the 13th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian, with the theme “Leadership 4.0: Succeeding in a New Era of Globalization”. More than 1,800 politicians, entrepreneurs, academics and media representatives from more than 120 countries and regions participated in the meeting. Since 2013, Premier Li Keqiang has attended the opening ceremony of each Annual Meeting of the New Champions and delivered special addresses.

In 2018, Klaus Schwab was honored with China Reform Friendship Medal at a conference celebrating the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up policy.