Exclusive | Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He to attend Davos next week, sources say

It will be the first time a top Chinese leader has travelled to the World Economic Forum meeting since the pandemic began

It’s unclear whether Liu will meet other leaders at the summit, which will be attended by US officials including Trade Representative Katherine Tai

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Outgoing Vice-Premier Liu He will travel to Davos, Switzerland next week. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:00pm, 9 Jan 2023Updated: 7:04pm, 9 Jan 2023

Outgoing Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He will travel to Davos, Switzerland next week for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, according to people familiar with the situation.

It would mark the first time a senior Chinese leader has attended the event in person since the pandemic began, and would be one of the first overseas trips by a top official since Beijing reopened its borders and lifted most Covid-related travel restrictions on Sunday.

The meeting is due to begin on Monday next week and will run for five days.

The annual World Economic Forum begins in Davos, in eastern Switzerland, next Monday. Photo: AFP

It is unclear whether Liu plans to meet other leaders and senior business executives during his trip.

Davos is expected to be attended by senior American officials including Trade Representative Katherine Tai, climate envoy John Kerry and Samantha Power, administrator of the US Agency for International Development, according to a statement from the US embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein on Friday.

In recent years, Beijing has used the event to reaffirm its commitment to further opening up its markets and economic globalisation and has also hit out at what it called Washington’s “protectionist” and “isolationist” policies.

At Davos in 2020, then vice-premier Han Zheng – who was also a member of the powerful Politburo Standing Committee – pledged further access to the Chinese market for foreign businesses.

Han met a handful of business leaders during the trip, including Apple chief executive Tim Cook and then Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser.

Exclusive | Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He to attend Davos next week, sources say

It will be the first time a top Chinese leader has travelled to the World Economic Forum meeting since the pandemic began It’s unclear whether Liu will meet other leaders at the summit, which will be attended by US officials including Trade Representative Katherine Tai

It will be the first time a top Chinese leader has travelled to the World Economic Forum meeting since the pandemic began

It’s unclear whether Liu will meet other leaders at the summit, which will be attended by US officials including Trade Representative Katherine Tai