Aylin Elci, Public Engagement, World Economic Forum, +41 75 404 10 95, aelc@weforum.org
Geneva, Switzerland, 21 January 2021 – Global leaders are advocating for cooperation to be the new compass for international relations and have released a set of seven Principles for Strengthening Global Cooperation. The World Economic Forum’s Global Action Group, comprised of senior members of government, business, civil society, and the expert community, developed the principles.
Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum, convened the Global Action Group in virtual meetings beginning in June 2020. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada; Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands; Tarō Kōno, Minister in charge of Administrative Reform of Japan; Tito Mboweni, Minister of Finance of South Africa; Dina Powell McCormick, Global Head, Sustainability and Inclusive Growth, Goldman Sachs; and Kent Walker, Senior Vice-President, Global Affairs, Google, co-chaired the group.
The seven principles call for prioritizing peace and security, equity, gender equality and sustainability because each of these is advanced by and is needed to advance global cooperation. Their absence can cause deep fractures as highlighted by the Global Risks Report 2021 released earlier this week by the Forum.
“Having leaders articulate the importance of working with one another – at a moment that so clearly calls for greater unity but lacks it – can serve as a vital step in rechannelling momentum in the right direction,” said Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum. “The direction we need to head is toward greater dialogue, coordination and collective action. Only in this way can we shape a more equitable and sustainable recovery and increase our future resilience.”
Members of the Global Action Group
Mohammed Alardhi, Executive Chairman, Investcorp Holding
John R. Allen, President, The Brookings Institution
Niels Annen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany
Thomas Bagger, Head, Foreign Policy Division, Office of Presidential Affairs of Germany
Thomas Buberl, Chief Executive Officer, AXA
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey
Mathias Cormann, Candidate of the Government of Australia for Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Ivo Daalder, President, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Chairman, Dutch Safety Board
Jeffrey D. Feltman, Senior Fellow, United Nations Foundation
Fu Ying, Chairperson, Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University
Orit Gadiesh, Chairman, Bain & Company
Arancha González Laya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain
Samer Haj Yehia, Chairman of the Board, Bank Leumi Le-Israel
Jane Harman, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance, Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia
Ann Linde, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden
Susana Malcorra, Dean, IE School of Global and Public Affairs, IE University
Luis Alberto Moreno, Member of the Board of Trustees, World Economic Forum
Vali R. Nasr, Professor of International Relations, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University
Patrick Odier, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bank Lombard Odier & Co.
Maxim Oreshkin, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation
Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Indian Prime Minister’s G20 Sherpa
Ayman Al Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Kevin Sneader, Global Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company
Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
About The Davos Agenda
The Principles for Strengthening Global Cooperation are released ahead of The Davos Agenda, a pioneering mobilization of global leaders aimed at rebuilding trust to shape the principles, policies and partnerships needed in 2021. It features a full week of global programming dedicated to helping leaders choose innovative and bold solutions to stem the pandemic and drive a robust recovery over the next year. Heads of state, chief executives, civil society leaders, and global media will actively participate in almost 100 sessions covering five themes. Media can register here.
Notes to editors
Find out more about the Davos Agenda Week 2021 at www.wef.ch/davosagenda
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