2018年CRI Winter Davos Forum kicks off with aim to solve global problems

 

This year's World Economic Forum¹ annual winter meeting is underway in Davos, Switzerland.

The resort town of Davos is currently trying to dig its way out of the worst snow storm it has suffered in the past two decades, which has paralyzed traffic.

Despite this, more than 3,000 people from around the world have managed to make their way to the town to take part in the winter session of the Davos Forum.

Participants are discussing issues including global governance, economy, new technologies, as well as environmental protection.

Andrew Wilson is the executive director of the US-based Center for International Private Enterprise.

He says that public-private cooperation and new technologies are the highlights of the discussions.

"I think one of the interesting things about this year's meeting is how the business community and governments and civil society can try to partner because of globalization. There will be a new whole space for small business, microenterprises. I think what's exciting is also the focus on technology, and I think that will help build more inclusiveness. It's the very spirit of Davos," said Wilson.

Established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation, the 48-year-old World Economic Forum has become an international organization committed to improving the state of the world.

The theme of this year's meeting is "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World."

It comes amid a backdrop of increased global divisions in the past year.

Tracy Crawford is an organizer of this year's event. 

"My understanding with Davos and the World Economic Forum is what we're really trying to do is to look at the shared future where all humanity is in it together. So we're solving economic problems over all with connecting with other people to solve economic problems, to solve refugee problems, to solve hunger problems. So what I'm looking at Davos is that we're bringing people together to solve problems in different ways," said Crawford.

Patrick Youssef with the International Red Cross says the forum provides opportunities for humanitarian² organizations to try to drum up more support.

"It is not only about business people, it is also about organizations want to do good, and there is a need for partners. One hand cannot stand by itself, you really need to have combined approaches to solve these problems. This is where I think humanitarian sectors³ have something to play," said Youssef.

Liu He, director of China's General Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs, is attending the sessions in Davos, along with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Around 70 world leaders are attending the Winter Davos Forum, including US President Donald Trump⁴, British Prime Minister Teresa May and German chancellor⁵ Angela Merkel.

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。