The 2026 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is set to open on Monday evening in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, with participants calling for constructive dialogue as the world faces mounting economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

A series of reports released by the WEF ahead of the meeting point to rising risks and growing downward pressure on the global economy amid an increasingly contested and fragmented international environment.

The latest Chief Economists' Outlook notes that while the global economic outlook has improved modestly, uncertainty remains elevated. Factors such as shifting asset valuations, rising debt levels, geoeconomic realignment and the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence are expected to continue shaping the global economy.

Held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," the five-day forum has drawn nearly 3,000 leaders and experts from around the world. Discussions will focus on five major global challenges, including strengthening international cooperation, unlocking new sources of growth and deploying innovation at scale in a responsible manner.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, WEF President and CEO Borge Brende underscored the importance of dialogue in the current global context. "In the World Economic Forum's view, dialogue is not a luxury; it is a necessity," he said.

Brende warned that the forum is particularly concerned about the risk of major escalations of wars. "That can kill global growth," he said, adding that if such escalations can be avoided, global economic growth could exceed three percent in 2026.

As the world's second-largest economy, China is expected to attract significant attention at this year's forum. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will attend the meeting, alongside around 65 heads of state and government and some 850 top business executives. He is scheduled to deliver a speech on Tuesday.

Sheikh Tanjeb Islam, head of the WEF's event editorial team, said in an interview with financial media outlet Yicai that China continues to draw increasing interest from participants, particularly with regard to its economic performance, innovation ecosystem and structural transformation.

On Monday, China announced that its gross domestic product (GDP) reached 140.19 trillion yuan (about $20.12 trillion) in 2025, growing 5 percent year on year and meeting the annual growth target of around 5 percent.

Brende expressed confidence in China's economic outlook, noting that if the country keeps on advancing economic reforms and sustaining investment in innovation and entrepreneurship, it will see continued growth and prosperity.

"China has already pivoted towards the fifth industrial revolution, which represents a major paradigm shift," said Brende. "Technologies offer huge opportunities for productivity gains and growth in the years to come, and China is a major contributor to that."

He also highlighted China's global leadership in wind turbine and solar equipment manufacturing, as well as its prominent role in electric vehicle production, with companies such as BYD gaining increasing recognition worldwide.

(With input from Xinhua)