World political and business leaders concluded a five-day forum Sunday on tackling the financial crisis and other global challenges, going home with world's expectations for decisions and actions.
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Participants are seen during the traditional farewell buffet lunch at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2009 in Davos, Switzerland, Feb. 1, 2009. The World Economic Forum (WEF) wrapped up its annual meeting here Sunday, with pledges of cooperation from world leaders and elites in tackling the global financial crisis. [Xinhua Photo]
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One of the most important consensuses reached at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, is the need for international cooperation in dealing with the current crisis, which has affected both developed and developing economies.
"This is not an economic crisis in one country, it is a global crisis. We need global cooperation and action to cope with it," said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, one of the 43 heads of state or government present at the meeting.
Klaus Schwab, the WEF's founder and executive chairman, went further to stress that the whole society, not only the governments, must be engaged in dealing with the current crisis.
The call for cooperation was echoed by other major leaders, including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In tackling the crisis, confidence is the source of strength, practical cooperation is the effective way and accepting responsibilities is the prerequisite, Wen said in his speech to the forum.
The Chinese premier expressed confidence that China's economy would continue to grow fast and steadily despite the impact of the global crisis.
"It's very encouraging, and the important thing is Premier Wen is using the statistics from China to illustrate his point," said Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization.
U.S. President Barack Obama was absent from the annual gathering of world elites in the Swiss ski resort. But a senior advisor conveyed his willingness for cooperation.
"Our economy is global, our crisis is global and our solutions must be global," said Valerie Jarrett, Obama's assistant for intergovernmental relations.
The United States cannot be alone in the effort to rebuild confidence in economy and the financial markets, Jarrett said.
She stressed that the Obama administration would be partners with the rest of the world "to establish a workable international framework that can help stabilize the global economy."
But cooperation and coordination may not be easy, given the differences of systems and interests, as well as the degree of impact by the crisis, participants said.
Participants at the meeting also called for an overhaul of the global financial system and the establishment of new economic orders with stronger international regulations.