Donald Trump will attend next week's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos digitally, its organisers said on Tuesday (January 14), as world leaders wait to hear more about the incoming U.S. President's policies and his pledge to end the war in Ukraine. - REUTERS
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00:00Top figures in business and politics are gathering once again in the Swiss mountains.
00:06The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum takes place this week in the resort town of Davos.
00:12Organisers claim over 60 heads of state and government will be present,
00:16with some 3,000 other business and political leaders.
00:20But one man won't be physically present, even though he's the centre of attention.
00:25Donald Trump is set to address the event by video link.
00:29He's been a regular at past meetings, including in 2020.
00:33Today I'm proud to declare that the United States is in the midst of an economic boom
00:40the likes of which the world has never seen before.
00:43This year all eyes will be on what moves he makes after being sworn in.
00:48Trump's promise of sweeping tariffs runs directly contrary to the Davos agenda of free trade.
00:54Delegates will also keep a close eye on any changes to US energy policy.
00:59Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be present,
01:02aiming to rally support from other world leaders.
01:05WEF managing director Mirek Dusek says Davos has always been a place for dialogue in times of conflict.
01:12So we are very glad that we are able to welcome him together with a governmental delegation
01:20to be able to have dialogue among his counterparts from around the world, including also European leaders.
01:28Other key topics on the agenda will include climate change and how to harness artificial intelligence.
01:34But not all the rich folk gathered in Davos see things the same way.
01:39Protesters will make their voice heard too, on the margins at least.
01:43Among them is German-Austrian millionaire heiress Marlene Engelhorn.
01:48We're here at Davos today because we need to tax the rich.
01:51Inequality is soaring, the climate is in a disastrous state.
01:56We see what democracies are facing when we don't tackle inequality.
02:00And it's not like taxing the rich is the easiest of things, but it's a democratic solution.
02:06As the world's wealthy get together, that call seems unlikely to gain traction in the conference halls at Davos.