Interview: WEF proud of its positive ties with China

Source: Xinhua | 01-24-2009 08:45

by Liu Guoyuan

GENEVA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Economic Forum (WEF) is "very proud" that it has managed to maintain "very positive" ties with China, a senior WEF official has said.

"We all know that China is an important factor in the future evolution and development of worldwide economy. So we are all very interested in what China will be doing," said Andre Schneider, managing director and chief operating officer of the Geneva-based organization.

In a recent interview with Xinhua before next week's opening of the 2009 WEF annual meeting, also known as the Davos Forum, in the Swiss Alpine skiing resort Davos.

More than 40 heads of state or government, including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and some 1,400 business leaders, have confirmed their participation at the five-day meeting scheduled to deal with the ongoing financial crisis and other global challenges.

Premier Wen's participation will certainly be "a unique opportunity" for the world to better understand what are the plans of the Chinese leadership to deal with the crisis, Schneider said.