China makes a strong comeback at Davos with Prime Minister Li Qiang’s speech after elections in Taiwan during a World Economic Forum where the presence of the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will weigh.

As it approaches second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy traveled to Davos for the first time to represent his country in person.

Ukraine: continued commitment

Volodymyr Zelensky heads the Ukrainian delegation to the World Economic Forum and will make his voice heard at Davos to forestall the easing tendencies of Ukraine’s allies. The previous two years the president of Ukraine was present in Davos via video conference.

Wearing the usual dark sweater and khaki pantsVolodymyr Zelensky was admitted to the morning session behind closed doors “CEOs for Ukraine» – with the participation mainly of the heads of Siemens Energy and Bank of America – in the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and German Vice Chancellor Robert Hambeck.

Volodymyr Zelensky will deliver his speech from the Davos Forum podium at 15.15 Greek time.

After two years of war, Ukraine should remobilize its allies, especially with the emergence of new conflicts in the Middle East. The war in Gaza and the insecurity created in the Red Sea will also be central topics of the Forum.

“There is a lot of insecurity about US and European aid” and Ukrainians worry about distracting the international community from other crises, admitted Penny Pritzker, the United States’ special representative for Ukraine’s economic reconstruction.

National Security Advisers from 80 countries discussed Sunday in Davos seeking to find common ground for a peace formula for Ukraine. But Swiss Foreign Minister Ignacio Cassis, co-chairman of the talks, admitted that so far neither Kiev nor Moscow is ready to take the step.

Beijing will talk about business

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is the highest-ranking Chinese official participating in the work of the Forum after the presence of President Xi Jinping in 2017.

His intervention is eagerly awaited after the election of Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party to the presidency of Taiwan.

Beijing expressed its categorical opposition yesterday in any official contact between the United States and Taiwan after the visit to Taipei of an American delegation that was presented as unofficial. Li Chiang will hold talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

While Chinese growth shows signs of slowing, Beijing is expected to take advantage of its presence in Davos to talk about business. The Minister of Commerce and the head of China’s central bank are part of the Chinese delegation.

Artificial Intelligence

The progress of Artificial Intelligence promises to be ubiquitous at Davos where Sam Altman, creator of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is expected to arrive today. Satya Nadella, head of Microsoft, will address this afternoon from the Forum podium.

The explosion of Artificial Intelligence is facilitating disinformation, which the World Economic Forum in Davos has identified as one of the greatest threats to humanity as billions of the world’s citizens go to the polls this year to elect their leaders.

The development of Artificial Intelligence raises concerns, but also offers an “amazing opportunity”, said the head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva.