Aliyev and Pashinyan are among the state leaders who will participate in WEF-25 in Davos

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20-24, will gather around 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries under the theme "Cooperation for the Intellectual Age," emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue in an era of increasing uncertainty.

According to a statement on the WEF website, "Against the backdrop of a paradigm shift in the global economy, the 55th meeting in Davos will address issues of reviving growth, leveraging new technologies, and strengthening social and economic resilience."

More than 220 sessions are expected to take place.

Among the key political leaders expected to participate are: Donald J. Trump, elected president of the United States (who will join via live video link for an interactive dialogue with participants), President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (who will speak at a panel on "Energy Transition" on January 23), Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China Ding Xuexiang; Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz; President of Argentina Javier Milei; President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola; President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa; Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez; President of the Swiss Confederation Karin Keller-Sutter; Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan; President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev; Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo; and President of Iraq Abdullatif Rashid, among others.

Also attending will be President of the DRC Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris, President of Israel Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim; Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schuffa; President of Poland Andrzej Duda; President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, and other state leaders.

"As the world is shaped by geopolitical tensions, economic shifts, and technological advancements, the 2025 annual meeting of the WEF will bring together around 3,000 leaders from various regions and industries to foster dialogue, build trust, and stimulate sustainable solutions to common problems. Davos is unique in bringing together decision-makers to tackle the problems of a world in deep transformation," said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the World Economic Forum. "Despite differences in positions and growing uncertainty, the 2025 annual meeting will foster a spirit of cooperation and constructive optimism with the aim of shaping the upcoming Intellectual Age in a more sustainable and inclusive manner."

World Economic Forum President and CEO Börge Brende believes that "the annual meeting from February 20-24 will take place at a time marked by a higher level of global uncertainty than we have seen in the past generation, caused by geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and accelerating climate change."

Leaders of international organizations will also participate: Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva; Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg; Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme Achim Steiner.

Additionally, over 1,600 business leaders, including more than 900 top CEOs and company chairpersons from World Economic Forum member countries and partners, with over 120 of them being global innovators and technology pioneers, will be in attendance.

The meeting will also include over 170 leaders from civil society and the social sector—representatives from trade unions, non-governmental organizations, religious and indigenous communities, as well as experts and heads of leading global universities, research institutes, and think tanks.

More than 160 members of the Global Shapers, Young Global Leaders, and Social Innovators networks will also participate to showcase local innovations and solutions to global problems.

"By bringing together leaders from around the world and from different walks of life, the annual meeting in Davos provides a platform for the exchange of opinions and knowledge in a time of profound change for people and communities," said Mirek Dusek, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum. "The main goal of our events is to ensure broad agency and solutions in the context of a new economy that seems to be emerging."

To respond to the dynamic global context, the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum will be held under the theme "Cooperation for the Intellectual Age." Discussions will focus on five interconnected pillars, each crucial for a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future.

Reimagining Growth will explore new opportunities for economic growth, including through technological innovation. Industry in the Intelligent Age will examine how businesses can navigate technological shifts and new industry dynamics. Investing in People will address workforce development, retraining, and job creation in emerging sectors. Safeguarding the Planet will focus on scaling climate and nature solutions and advancing decarbonization efforts. Rebuilding Trust will work on strengthening global cooperation and resilience in an increasingly fragmented world.

In anticipation of the 2025 meeting, the World Economic Forum has released several reports to inform and guide discussions, including the "Future of Jobs Report 2025."

This report examines how changing global trends and new technologies are expected to create 170 million new jobs by 2030, while displacing 92 million others, highlighting the urgent need for workforce reskilling worldwide.

The Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 highlights the growing complexity of the cybersecurity landscape due to the rapid growth of new technologies, geopolitical uncertainty, and vulnerabilities in supply chain interdependencies, as well as the growing gap in cyber skills.

Regarding climate, nature, and energy, the Davos Forum will build on the momentum from three UN climate summits in 2024 (including one in Baku) to scale up the deployment of renewable energy sources, increase energy efficiency to address demand for energy, and protect and restore nature.

The Forum will advance key initiatives, including the Global Plastic Action Partnership and the Industrial Transition Clusters Initiative.

"The climate and nature crisis requires urgent attention and action. In 2024, global warming reached a record 1.54°C above pre-industrial averages, with unprecedented catastrophic weather events occurring in many parts of the world," said Jim Huai Neo, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum. "At the annual meeting, we will discuss how data and technology, along with innovative partnerships, can be used to create value and expand leadership opportunities for people, the planet, and prosperity."

A panel on "Art and Culture" has also been prepared, including the 31st Annual Crystal Awards Ceremony and a program featuring interactive art, music, film, photography, and handicrafts created with artificial intelligence.