Key Points
- The 16th Summer Davos Forum (Annual Meeting of the New Champions) will be held in Tianjin (Tianjin 天津) from June 24 to 25, 2025, with China’s Premier Li Qiang (Li Qiang 李强) headlining the event.
- Over 1,700 representatives from more than 90 countries and regions, including several heads of state, are expected to attend, making it a critical gathering for global economic dialogue.
- Premier Li Qiang’s agenda includes delivering a special address, holding high-level meetings with foreign dignitaries, and engaging in business roundtables.
- China aims for the forum to promote stability and certainty in the world economy, countering sluggish global growth and rising protectionism.
- This year’s forum has seen a record high in registered attendance in recent years, reflecting a strong desire for economic globalization and increased cooperation with China.
China’s Premier Li Qiang (Li Qiang 李强) is set to take center stage at the 16th Summer Davos Forum, signaling a major moment for global economic dialogue.
The high-profile event, officially the World Economic Forum’s “Annual Meeting of the New Champions,” will unfold in the port city of Tianjin (Tianjin 天津) from June 24 to 25, 2025.
Against a backdrop of a sluggish global economy and rising protectionism, this gathering is shaping up to be a critical barometer for international trade and cooperation.
Let’s break down who’s coming, what’s on the agenda, and what it all means.
A-List Attendees: Global Leaders Descend on Tianjin
This isn’t just another conference.
The guest list is stacked with top-tier political and business leaders, underscoring the event’s significance.
We’re expecting over 1,700 representatives from the political, business, academic, and media worlds, hailing from more than 90 countries and regions.
Heads of state confirmed to attend include:
- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa
- Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (Huang XunCai 黄循财)
- Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov (Kasimaliyev 卡瑟马利耶夫)
- Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko (Songke 松科)
- Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (Fan Mingzheng 范明政)
- Ecuadorian President: Daniel Noboa
- Singaporean Prime Minister: Lawrence Wong (Huang XunCai 黄循财)
- Kyrgyz Prime Minister: Akylbek Japarov (Kasimaliyev 卡瑟马利耶夫)
- Senegalese Prime Minister: Ousmane Sonko (Songke 松科)
- Vietnamese Prime Minister: Phạm Minh Chính (Fan Mingzheng 范明政)
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Premier Li Qiang’s Packed Agenda
Premier Li Qiang won’t just be making a token appearance.
His schedule is designed for maximum impact and direct engagement, a clear signal of China’s hands-on approach.
Here’s a look at his key activities:
- Delivering a Special Address: Kicking off the forum with a keynote speech during the opening ceremony. This will be closely watched for policy signals.
- High-Level Meetings: Holding one-on-one meetings with the foreign dignitaries attending the forum.
- Business Roundtables: Engaging in direct discussions with representatives from the international business community.
This direct access is a rare opportunity for global execs to get face-time and clarity straight from one of China’s top leaders.
China’s Message: A Push for Stability in a Turbulent World
So, what’s China’s goal here?
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun (Guo Jiakun 郭嘉昆) laid it out clearly.
He described the Summer Davos Forum as a vital platform for “promoting China-foreign exchanges and practical cooperation.”
Guo pointed out the tough global environment:
- Sluggish global economic growth is a major headwind.
- The rise of unilateralism and protectionism is severely impacting the multilateral trading system.
Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, the spokesperson highlighted that registered attendance for this year’s forum has hit a record high in recent years.
The interpretation? This shows a “common desire of all parties to maintain economic globalization and the free trade system.”
It also reflects a “positive attitude towards strengthening economic and trade exchanges and cooperation with China.”
China’s ultimate aim for the forum is ambitious but clear:
“We look forward to working with participating guests from various countries to inject more stability and certainty into the world economy.”
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Why This Matters for Investors, Founders, and Techies
For anyone in tech, finance, or global business, the Summer Davos Forum is a must-watch event.
- Policy Signals: Speeches and official readouts will offer crucial clues about China’s economic priorities, approach to foreign investment, and support for key industries.
- Global Sentiment Check: The tone and outcomes of the discussions serve as a real-time indicator of the state of global economic relations and China’s role within them.
- Strategic Networking: The forum remains one of the world’s premier platforms for building relationships with Chinese officials and global peers.
As leaders gather, the conversations in Tianjin could set the agenda for international economic policy and investment flows for months to come.
All eyes will be on the 16th Summer Davos Forum to see if collaboration can win out over competition.
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