Davos Agenda: President Xi Jinping’s speech

A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust

The Davos Agenda is a pioneering mobilisation of global leaders to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in this challenging new context. The Davos Agenda 2021, World Economic Forum’s virtual event, convened under the theme: A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust.

It gathered the world’s foremost leaders to address the economic, environmental, social and technological challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting focused on creating impact, rebuilding trust and shaping the policies and partnerships needed in 2021.

The five programme themes were:

1. Designing cohesive, sustainable, resilient economic systems (25 January)
2. Driving responsible industry transformation and growth (26 January)
3. Enhancing stewardship of the global commons (27 January)
4. Harnessing the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (28 January)
5. Advancing global and regional cooperation (29 January)

Historic opportunity for collaboration

25 January 2021 — Chinese President Xi Jinping called for both greater global efforts in the fight against an unprecedented public health crisis and a renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation, in a special address to business, government and civil society leaders taking part in The Davos Agenda 2021.

“The pandemic is far from over and the recent resurgence in COVID cases reminds us that we must carry on the fight,” President Xi said. “There is no doubt that humanity will prevail over the virus and emerge even stronger from this disaster.”

President Xi outlined several objectives required for a better future. They include the need to:

• Work together to achieve strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth
• Close the gap between developing and developed countries as a prerequisite for global prosperity
• Strengthen global cooperation in addressing the big common challenges, namely COVID-19 and climate change

Climate

President Xi reiterated China’s commitment to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: promoting a Green, low-carbon way of life and production, and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.

“We need to deliver on the Paris Agreement on climate change and promote Green development,” he said. “We need to give continued priority to development, implement the Sustainable Development Goals, and make sure that all countries, especially developing ones, share in the fruits of global development.”

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Aerial view of Nantou Old Town, 2017 UABB Main Venue.
Images courtesy of UABB, URBANUS, Wu Qingshan. Photographers: Zhang Chao, Wu Qingshan, URBANUS.

Cross Street Zone after regeneration.
Images courtesy of UABB, URBANUS, Wu Qingshan. Photographers: Zhang Chao, Wu Qingshan, URBANUS.