Xi Jinping's First Message to Biden at Davos: "Multilateralism Must Be Respected" (Comprehensive)

Attended After 4 Years, Biden's Absence Turns Event Into Solo Stage
"Should Not Impose Social Systems on Other Countries," Emphasized

The appearance of Chinese President Xi Jinping delivering the keynote speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) virtual meeting held on the 25th (local time)
[Image source=WEF website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized "multilateralism" in his keynote speech at this year's World Economic Forum (WEF), held shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden's inauguration, seemingly targeting the United States. President Xi stressed that it is an era requiring mutual benefit and harmony, urging to abandon prejudice and strongly stating that no country should impose a specific social system on another. As attention focuses on how this message might influence the Biden administration's China strategy, President Biden did not attend this WEF due to domestic issues, leading to evaluations that the forum was effectively President Xi's solo stage.

According to Chinese local media such as Global Times and the WEF, President Xi stated in his keynote speech during the WEF Davos Agenda Week held via video conference on the 25th (local time), "Today's global problems are very complex. To solve these problems, it is above all important to uphold multilateralism and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind." He emphasized, "To pursue the path of peaceful coexistence, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation, ideological prejudice must be abandoned," adding, "The solution to the various problems the world is currently facing is multilateralism."

President Xi said, "Differences are not to be feared. What is fearful is arrogance, prejudice, and hostility, which divide human civilization into different grades and impose one's own history, culture, and social system on others." He continued, "No single country can fight and solve all the global problems humanity currently faces alone. Global action, global response, and global cooperation are necessary."

Reiterating the importance of multilateralism and seemingly conscious of the United States, President Xi stated, "Forming small factions, starting a new Cold War, rejecting others, and threatening them only drive the world toward division," adding, "Confrontation will lead to a dead end." He emphasized again, "No one should impose their history, culture, or social system on another country."

This is President Xi's first attendance at the WEF in four years since January 2017. Since 2018, as trade disputes with the U.S. Donald Trump administration intensified, President Xi had not attended at all. With President Biden not attending this WEF due to domestic issues, evaluations suggest that President Xi has become the undisputed main figure and keynote speaker of this forum. Representing the U.S. at this WEF were John Kerry, the climate envoy, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and an authority on infectious diseases.

President Xi also emphasized China's commitment as a major country in the international community during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, "We must expand international cooperation in vaccine development, production, and distribution, ensuring that people worldwide have access to vaccines," adding, "China will share its epidemic prevention know-how and support countries and regions that are less prepared."

Meanwhile, the WEF, commonly called the Davos Forum, is an international event held every January where about 3,000 participants including heads of state, political and business leaders, and academic experts gather to discuss and exchange information on global economic development. This year, due to the impact of COVID-19, the actual event was postponed to May, but a preliminary video conference event called the "Davos Agenda Week" was held over five days from the 25th to the 29th of this month. Besides President Xi, 25 world leaders including South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attended the WEF video conference and planned to deliver special speeches according to the schedule.