Key speakers to appear at the WEF on Tuesday
Published: Tuesday, Jan 16th 2024, 04:40
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The most important speakers are expected at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos GR on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will give speeches.
The official program of the WEF starts with a speech by President Viola Amherd. The schedule is tight, with Premier Li Qiang appearing just twenty minutes after Amherd. China's presence at the WEF is likely to be of particular importance to the West. China is considered an ally of Russia in the Ukraine war. Western states hope to be able to exert influence on Moscow via Beijing.
However, the most prominent guest at the forum is Ukrainian President Selensky. According to the program, he will appear on Tuesday afternoon. Shortly after his speech, a panel discussion on the demining of Ukraine is planned with Federal Councillors Amherd and Ignazio Cassis. Selensky will also hold bilateral meetings with EU and NATO representatives. According to his own statements, his aim is to promote Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO.
Selenskyj and Li Qiang had already met federal councillors in Bern on Monday. President Amherd agreed to organize a "high-level peace summit" for Ukraine. According to Amherd, preparations will begin as early as Tuesday. Furthermore, Economics Minister Guy Parmelin signed a joint declaration with Li Qiang on the free trade agreement between Switzerland and China.
Against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, the participation of ministers from several countries in the region, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Qatar, is also important at the WEF. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan are due to arrive from the USA. According to the program, Sullivan will give a speech late Tuesday afternoon.
Bilaterals with the EU at the heart of Switzerland
EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will also be speaking at the Davos Congress Center on Tuesday. On the part of the Swiss Confederation, meetings with EU representatives are the focus of the WEF.
President Amherd and Von der Leyen had already held talks on Monday. They confirmed the swift commencement of negotiations on a package of agreements on future relations.
Observers saw such a meeting as a positive signal after months of talks at a technical level. The Federal Council adopted a negotiating mandate in mid-December. Five days later, the EU Commission published its draft mandate. The declared aim on both the Swiss and the EU side is to be able to start negotiations in two to three months.
Further talks on the EU dossier are also planned. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will meet the Vice-President of the EU Commission responsible for the Swiss dossier, Maros Sefcovic. Economics Minister Guy Parmelin wants to speak with the Commissioner for Innovation, Research and Education, Iliana Ivanova.
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