World leaders convene in Davos for WEF annual meeting 2024

The 54th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting is set to kick off in Davos on January 15, with over 2,800 leaders from across the globe converging for a five-day discussion on a myriad of global issues. This year’s event is notably larger, with more than 60 heads of state and government expected to attend, including prominent figures like Li Qiang, Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.

Davos, already abuzz with over 500 journalists covering the event, has seen heightened security measures, with thousands of army, police, and security personnel deployed from Switzerland and neighboring countries to ensure the summit’s safety. The city also hosted a groundbreaking meeting of 90 national security advisors on January 14, focusing, presumably, on a peace plan for Ukraine.

The extensive agenda for the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 encompasses discussions on climate change, threats from artificial intelligence, economic challenges, and ongoing global conflicts, including the Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas conflict. India is poised to be well-represented at the summit, with three union ministers, three chief ministers, ministerial colleagues, and over a hundred CEOs in attendance.

In a noteworthy move highlighting the significance of international security, the WEF, in collaboration with the Swiss and Ukrainian governments, is hosting a meeting of National Security Advisors today in Davos. This session is a vital component of the multifaceted Davos 2024 conference, known for uniting leaders from politics, business, and civil society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.