Chinese premier to attend WEF Annual Meeting 2024, visit Switzerland and Ireland

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and pay an official visit to Switzerland and Ireland from January 14 to 17, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Thursday.

Premier Li's tour is at the invitation of Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, Viola Amherd, president of the Swiss Confederation, and Leo Varadkar, Irish prime minister, Mao added.

Li will attend the opening plenary session of the WEF annual meeting and deliver a special speech as an invited leader, Mao said at a regular press briefing.

Noting that the theme of the meeting this year is "Rebuilding Trust," Mao said that China looks forward to working with all parties to strengthen exchanges and communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and make China's contribution to promoting the world's economic recovery, improving global economic governance and jointly addressing challenges.

Detailing Li's visit to Switzerland, Mao said he will hold talks with Amherd and other federal councilors, exchanging views on China-Switzerland relations, mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas, as well as regional and international issues.

Noting that the two countries established diplomatic relations 74 years ago and established an innovative strategic partnership in 2016, Mao said both sides have reached a series of important consensuses in cooperation, providing strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations.

She added that the two sides have a profound cooperation foundation and huge potential in areas such as economy and trade, finance and innovation.

Li's visit to Switzerland is the beginning of China-Europe high-level exchanges in 2024, she said, adding that China looks forward to implementing the important consensus reached by the two leaders through this visit to maintain close high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and support free trade and multilateralism, aimed at better enriching the connotation of their innovative strategic partnership.

Speaking of China-Ireland relations, the spokesperson said the China-Ireland mutually beneficial strategic partnership has achieved sound development, noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Mao hailed the frequent exchanges between the two sides at all levels and the continued cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, investment, green development, culture and education.

During this visit, both sides will consolidate political mutual trust and deepen cooperation in various fields, she said, adding that China looks forward to working with Ireland to push greater development of bilateral relations and make new contributions to the sound and stable development of China-Europe relations.

(Cover: A sign of the World Economic Forum. /CFP)