International Desk : The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 was held in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to January 23. On the sidelines of the forum, its President, Børge Brende, gave an exclusive interview to China Media Group (CMG).

Focusing on the theme of this year’s meeting, “The Spirit of Dialogue,” Brende emphasized the urgent need for greater dialogue in today’s fractured world. He called on global leaders to come together and resolve pressing challenges through cooperation and “win-win” thinking.

According to the Forum’s recently released Global Risks Report 2026, geo-economic confrontation has emerged as the most significant risk facing the world this year. Several sub-forums at Davos were dedicated to this issue, underscoring the importance of dialogue and cooperation as pathways to sustainable solutions.

In this context, Brende noted that the world is experiencing its most challenging geopolitical environment since the end of the Cold War. At the same time, there had been widespread expectations that such tensions would have a far more severe impact on global economic growth. Contrary to those concerns, however, the global economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Global growth is expected to exceed 3 percent this year, China’s growth is projected to surpass 5 percent, and the U.S. economy is also performing strongly. Brende attributed much of this momentum to frontier technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, which are increasingly driving economic expansion.

Historically, trade served as the primary engine of growth. While trade remains important today, new technologies have become the dominant drivers of economic progress. Based on this assessment, Brende believes that the likelihood of large-scale war or escalating conflict remains relatively low. However, he cautioned that if such conflicts were to occur, the consequences would be catastrophic. This, he stressed, is precisely why every possible effort must be made to prevent such scenarios.

Brende further emphasized the necessity of cooperation in areas of shared interest. Global challenges, he said, cannot be resolved by any single country acting alone. Cybercrime is a prime example: every year, an estimated 3 to 5 trillion U.S. dollars are stolen through cyber-related crimes. “I think we can all agree that this is clearly not a good thing,” he remarked, adding that countries must significantly strengthen cooperation in this field. He also pointed out the need for closer collaboration on legal frameworks, regulations, and governance mechanisms.

Brende also observed that China, as the world’s second-largest economy after the United States, has seen its influence extend across virtually every domain globally. He described President Xi Jinping’s 2017 speech at Davos as inspiring, noting that it delivered a powerful message on the importance of multilateralism and global cooperation. China, he said, has played a leadership role by consistently emphasizing the importance of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations. While it may be easier for a major power to act unilaterally, China has consistently upheld the principle that “by walking together, we can go farther.” Brende stressed that this approach is particularly vital at a time when the world faces numerous challenges that can only be addressed through collective effort.

Source: Swarna-Hashim-Lily, China Media Group.