DAVOS - China will put on a show of force with a large delegation represented by Prime Minister Li Qiang at the annual meeting of global elites in Davos, despite shadows cast by wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also attending the World Economic Forum in person for the first time since Russia's invasion in 2022, hoping to drum up more aid as the conflict approaches its second anniversary.
Li and Zelensky will be addressing global and business A-listers who descend on the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos every year for a week of serious talks and schmoozing.
Li, who will make a special address on Tuesday, will be the most senior Chinese official to attend Davos since President Xi Jinping in 2017.
He will be joined by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, the governor of the People's Bank of China and high-ranking representatives from other ministries including Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.
Li will hold talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, but it is not yet clear if he or the deputy foreign minister will meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
His speech will be closely followed after tense presidential elections at the weekend in Taiwan, the democratic island that Beijing claims as part of China.
After self-ruled Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te welcomed an American delegation following his election victory, China on Monday hit back that it was "firmly opposed" to all official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.
Other key speakers on Tuesday will be Von der Leyen and NATO head Jens Stoltenberg. Von der Leyen will also hold private talks with Zelensky as well as Blinken and Hungarian President Katalin Novak.
Politicians and business leaders will discuss how to build consensus on a multitude of risks worldwide including climate change and a cost-of-living crisis.
Attendees will also grapple with how to maintain global trade after attacks by Yemeni rebels in the Red Sea disrupted the key conduit for Asia-Europe shipping.