Davos forum begins to address global challenges

DAVOS, Switzerland - The World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting 2013 opened here on Tuesday evening under the theme "resilient dynamism".

Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF explained in his welcoming address what he was expecting as an outcome from this year's meeting.

Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab speaks during the welcoming address at the annual meeting in Davos, Jan 22, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

"Going back being more dynamic, more optimistic, more resilient, having passion and understanding better what's going on -- that's my wish for you," he told the participants.

The 2013 Davos forum will bring together some 2,500 participants from more than 100 countries and 1,400 organizations. Among them, there are more than 1,600 business leaders and more than 45 heads of state or government, according to the WEF.

In more than 250 sessions and workshops during the six-day meeting, participants will discuss questions including how the global economy can get back to robust growth, and how business models can adapt to generational and structural changes.

Schwab said in a written interview with Xinhua before the forum that the theme "Resilient Dynamism" is the combined attribute that will be expected from leaders in 2013.

He said that if external shocks were now the norm in a hyper-connected and interdependent world, then leaders would need to be more resilient; while future growth in the new context of a prolonged global economic malaise requires dynamism.

"Either attribute, resilience or dynamism, alone is insufficient, as leadership in 2013 will require both," he said.

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