Agenda Dialogues

Trade is being reshaped by a more uncertain global economy, as businesses and governments rethink how goods, capital and technology move across borders. From the Middle East to other major trading hubs, maintaining global connectivity increasingly depends on building systems that can absorb disruption without retreating from openness. What will it take to keep trade open, adaptable and resilient a...

We keep asking young people what they want. The sharper question is what they already understand that the rest of us have yet to grasp. Drawing on the World Economic Forum's Youth Pulse report, which captures the perspectives of nearly 10,000 young people across regions, this discussion explores the signals emerging from a generation growing up amid rapid change.  What might today's leaders need t...

As organizations navigate increasing complexity, the call for authentic, purpose-driven leadership has never been stronger.  This session explores how leaders can bridge the gap between values and strategy — fostering trust, engagement, and meaningful impact in their teams and organizations.  The discussion draws on research and lived experiences to examine how authenticity enhances strategic deci...

What lies beyond the rankings? Grounded in the findings of the 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index, this webinar unpacks the structural shifts shaping tourism competitiveness across more than 100 economies. The discussion explores where progress is accelerating, where vulnerabilities persist and what the findings mean for policy, investment and destination strategy. This is the full audio from...

The global economy continues to navigate a period of significant disruption, with ongoing conflicts in multiple regions, volatile bond markets and growing debate over the infrastructure, technologies and investments that could shape the future. How are companies adapting to these shifts and what trends are leading economists watching most closely? Join us for a discussion with chief economists on...

China is entering a new demographic era, with one of the world's fastest-ageing populations reshaping its economic and social landscape. At the same time, advances in genetics, regenerative medicine and preventive health are deepening the understanding of ageing and healthy living. As science and policy evolve, what will it take to realize the full potential of longevity? Speakers : Chavalit Frede...

Record-breaking heat across Europe is placing growing pressure on critical infrastructure. At the same time, oil prices climbed above $100 per barrel earlier this year as geopolitical tensions once again exposed vulnerabilities in global energy markets. These are not isolated crises, but different sides of the same coin. And prompts the question, how can we build energy systems that remain reliabl...

More than $150 trillion moves across borders each year through the global financial system, the vast majority of it still denominated in dollars. As geopolitical tensions fragment trade relationships and middle powers look to diversify their financial exposure, alternative currencies are gaining quiet traction, such as the recent renewal of a 200-billion-yuan swap line between the Bank of Canada a...

Tariffs, export controls and mechanisms such as investment screening have become central instruments of economic management. This is pushing strategic players to leverage their production of critical resources and the concentration of critical supply chain inputs. In an increasingly fractured economy, what is the right balance between protecting national interests while continuing to seek economic...

As AI inference costs have dropped by over 90%, enterprises are embedding data and intelligence at the core of their operating and business models, enabling always-on, global execution beyond human limits. How are these AI-first enterprises reorganizing around AI in practice, and under what conditions does this actually translate into long-term value for society? This is the full audio from a sess...

Global foreign direct investment rebounded by 14% to $1.6 trillion in 2025, yet the gains remained heavily concentrated in advanced economies, widening the gap with the emerging markets expected to drive the majority of growth in the coming decades. Young populations, rapid digital adoption and expanding consumer bases give emerging economies significant structural advantages, but capital, technol...

Who will lead the next wave of high-impact innovation in women's health? This session highlights how growing momentum around closing evidence gaps, addressing system-level challenges and redesigning care pathways is opening new opportunities to improve health outcomes and investment in one of the world's most promising innovation markets. Panellists will explore how stronger collaborations can unl...

Food security has emerged as a critical challenge, defined by access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. As AI becomes a new frontier in food systems, with applications ranging from accelerating ingredient discovery to enabling precision agriculture, the gap between pilot initiatives and large-scale deployment remains substantial, particularly in Asia-Pacific where the majority of the world's...

As global temperatures continue to rise, El Niño events are becoming increasingly consequential for economies, ecosystems and societies. This session will explore what leaders need to understand about El Niño in a warming world, from its impacts on extreme weather, food and water security, and supply chains to the decisions needed to build resilience in an era of growing climate volatility. Speake...

After nearly 50 years of on-off sanctions, proxy conflict and nuclear brinkmanship, tensions between the US and Iran reached an apex this year. As the situation evolves rapidly, many hope for a long-lasting peace agreement. What would such an agreement look like and how would it affect the rest of the world? Speakers: Cameron Abadi, Deputy Editor, Foreign Policy Group Mahmood Sariolghalam, Affilia...

The US and China remain deeply intertwined economically, yet unresolved trade, technology and security divides have created friction and raised fundamental questions about the trajectory of the relationship. The recent bilateral summit has reset the tone without resolving the underlying structural tensions. Following the presidential summit, where are relations between the world's two largest econ...

As China enters its 15th Five-Year Plan period, policy priorities are focused on boosting domestic demand, upgrading industry through innovation and accelerating the green transition across sectors from advanced manufacturing to new energy. Are the conditions right for China to transition to an innovation and consumption-led economy? This is the full audio from a session at the Annual Meeting of t...

From the ripple effects of ongoing conflict in the Middle East on markets and energy supply to ongoing geoeconomic fragmentation, constraints on the global economy are creating one of the most complex operating environments in decades. This is the full audio from a session at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC26) in Dalian, China on June 23-25 2026. Watch it here: https://www.weforumasi...

For over four decades, China has crafted a hybrid growth model that blends planning, innovation, and global integration. This has driven remarkable gains in manufacturing, clean energy, and, more recently, artificial intelligence. As pressures and stakes rise, what will define the next chapter of this alternative model? Speakers : Carlson Tong, Chairman, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) Zhu...

AI is remixing the rules of music and the role of the human artist. If a machine can craft a hit, what's left that only humans can create? Join this conversation exploring AI's intersection with human creativity and the broader implications for authorship, equity and the fundamental qualities that make music truly human. Speakers:  Juliet Mann, TV Host, China Global Television Network (CGTN) Harve...

The last pre-conflict shipments have now reached their destinations, yet the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. As the supply crunch hits the global economy, what's going to happen next? Which regions and industries are the most severely affected? And what does this mean for the global economic outlook in May 2026?  This is the full audio from a studio discussion recorded on 27 May 2026. Speakers :...

AI Infrastructure in the Age of Sovereignty: Requirements, Strategies and a Trusted Framework for Digital Embassies is a report co-drafted with Bain & Company and published on 11 May, 2026.   This webinar explores how economies can pursue AI sovereignty along a spectrum of strategies, from trusted international partnerships to extensive domestic ownership, depending on their local capabilities. Th...

Technological revolutions, a reset in supply chains and soaring stock markets, these are not just characteristics of today's economy. In the 1920s, electrification, the automobile and assembly lines changed the economic landscape.   What parallels exist between this decade and the 1920s and what could we learn from them for the future of the global economy? Speakers : Andrew R. Sorkin, Editor-at-L...

A discussion centred on the launch of the Second Technology Convergence Report on April 28, 2026, highlighting key findings and industry implications. The session shares actionable insights for scaling convergent technologies, building on the foundational work established in the first year. Speakers : Connie Kuang, Initiatives Lead, Technology Convergence, Centre for AI Excellence Cathy Li, Head,...

Cultural leaders and science experts come together to explore the act of doing and of making do with what is at hand to create something new. Speakers: Thijs Biersteker, Artist and Founder, The Woven Foundation Fabiola Gianotti, Physicist, Director-General, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) (2016-2025) Priyamvada Natarajan, Joseph S. and Sophia S. Fruton Professor of Astronomy and...