WEF Davos: When leaders seek leadership.

(Baonghean) - The World Economic Forum in Davos is an opportunity to gather talented individuals, a meeting place for the elite from around the globe. This year's conference clearly showed that what current leaders are eagerly anticipating and yearning for is leadership.

Popular keywords

"Leadership" was one of the most frequently uttered words in speeches and statements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Leaders from all sectors and fields, whether political, economic, or other areas, gathered together within the framework of the forum, a tradition established in 1971, including young global leaders. This 2017 forum revolved around the theme of "proactive and responsible leadership." It was seen as an opportunity to honor all the key figures and invited guests. Many companies and corporations contributed significant sums, up to 500,000 euros (over 532,000 USD), to help "shape" the Davos forum. Many attendees held leadership positions in companies, international organizations, or headed governments. They view the Davos Conference as an opportunity to participate in discussions, conduct networking activities, build relationships, do business, or exchange information.

The Chinese President at this year's conference. Photo: Internet

But this year, it's noticeable that the leaders attending the meeting are all seeking and vying for leadership positions for themselves. They are exploring direction, considering what to hold onto, and what is worth relying on. However, it seems that nothing noteworthy has emerged so far.

Things are different now than they used to be.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, it seemed that only one superpower remained in the world: the United States. And it appeared that the path to the future lay in nothing other than globalization and economic competition, free trade and open borders wherever possible, or at least the free and unimpeded flow of capital and labor. All of these were once core messages emanating from Davos.

But since 2016, this direction has increasingly faced significant questioning from the disgruntled middle class in industrialized nations, from populist parties, and especially after the successes of the Brexit campaigns in the UK and Donald Trump in the US. Since then, only one thing is certain: it is impossible to know for sure where the world is headed…

Analysts have also grappled with numerous perplexing questions. Will the European Union collapse? Is the United States gradually shifting towards total protectionism? Is free trade on the brink of collapse? All these unanswered questions were the subject of debate at Davos, and of course, the question of how to promote globalization without leaving vast, densely populated regions of the world behind could not be ignored.

The World Economic Forum brings together leaders from diverse fields around the globe. Photo: PTI

From the perspective of the poor and the underprivileged, they suspect that these issues are only being discussed now that mainstream politicians in industrialized countries are apprehensive about the prospect of losing power. Even the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is not a charity, has warned about inequality for years, but until now, these "cold words" have been largely ignored.

Is China the savior?

The fact that Chinese President Xi Jinping was hailed as a savior of capitalism at this year's Davos forum only adds to the growing unease among global elites over the instability. World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab described Xi Jinping's speech as "historic" and a good example of "proactive and responsible leadership."

Indeed, based on his actions, Xi Jinping could be seen as a supporter of free trade, climate protection, and international cooperation. However, as the German newspaper DW commented, China has pursued protectionist policies for decades. The Chinese leadership has been shrewd in opening up its economy gradually, little by little, in the face of international competition. In some key areas, the country still says "no" to external competitors.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Donald Trump will implement the policies he has previously stated. What we can say with certainty is that the world's largest economy will no longer pursue a "year-on-year" policy. The world is becoming increasingly multipolar, with power and influence distributed almost evenly across the planet. This was part of the discussion at Davos in recent days, but what is particularly noteworthy for the global "elite" who gather there each year is the truth that "things change," and the world cannot remain static forever.

Phu Binh(According to DW)