Leaders Meet To Tackle Global Challenges

Independent organisation the World Economic Forum opened its annual meeting today by calling on its members to meet the challenges of economic stability, climate change and equitable growth.

Chaired by ex-UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, the meeting in Switzerland brings together political and business leaders from around the globe to resolve some of the world's biggest challenges, both political and environmental.

While political leaders will seek out strategies to achieve political stability, CEO of oil and energy company Chevron David O'Reilly believes the issue of meeting energy supplies must be addressed.

"As more people are lifted out of poverty, demands on energy are only going to increase," says O'Reilly, who believes finding solutions to the energy challenge will "test the theme of the conference".

CEO and Chairman of China Mobile Communications Corporation, Wang Jianzhou, says "companies and countries need to take social responsibility and pay attention to climate change and other global challenges".

More than 2,500 participants from 88 countries are attending the meeting in Davos, Switzerland, including 27 heads of state or government, 113 cabinet ministers, along with religious leaders, media bosses and heads of non-governmental organisations.

The European Commission also set out plans today to fight climate change by slashing greenhouse gas emissions by a fifth in 2020.

By Ozge Ibrahim