Despite the absence of some prominent leaders of various countries, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland has kicked off.

Iran Press/Europe: Each edition of Davos has a theme, this year, organizers have chosen: "Globalization 4.0: Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution."

Some 3,000 of the world's richest and most powerful people are crowding into the small Swiss mountain town for this week's World Economic Forum.

The American president Donald Trump canceled his return trip earlier this month due to his government shut down.

British Prime Minister Theresa May also called off her visit after suffering a stinging defeat on Brexit. French President Emmanuel Macron will not attend this year’s world economic forum in Davos in response to ongoing protests in his country. Neither Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is struggling with a slowing economy, nor Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is fighting for a second term, will attend in the forum.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa canceled his visit to Davos after violent protests erupted at home. The president has announced that his finance minister would represent Zimbabwe.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will attend in the annual World Economic Forum in Davos.

Bill Gates, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Prince William, and Al Gore will also be in attendance.

As organizers claim, The Annual Meeting remains the foremost gathering of top leaders from politics, business, civil society, and academia to shape the global, industry and regional agendas in the context of Globalization 4.0 and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The gathering of political leaders, chief executives, NGOs, academics, and activists have been held in the mountain resort region of Graubunden since 1971, when the organization was founded by the German economist Klaus Schwab.

Last year, 3,000 delegates from 110 countries attended 400 sessions held over the course of the four-day symposium. 212/103

Video by Reuters

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