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Catherine Wong

President Xi Jinping warned against protectionism and populism on Monday, ahead of his keynote address on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Xi made the remarks to business executives in Bern, Switzerland, a country China is seeking to consolidate relations with amid fears of a spreading anti-globalisation movement.
“Protectionism, populism and de-globalisation are on the rise. It’s not good for closer economic cooperation globally,” Xi said, adding that Switzerland and China would work together to ­reject all forms of protectionism.
Chinese President Xi Jinping travels to Davos with a tough sell on his hands
Xi arrived in Bern on Sunday. He will be the first Chinese president to deliver the keynote speech at the World Economic Forum at the Swiss resort of Davos, which will be attended by some 3,000 members of the world’s political and business elite.
Xi is expected to send a pro-globalisation message in his speech at the forum.
In talks with his Swiss counterpart Doris Leuthard on Sunday, Xi highlighted the importance of China-Switzerland cooperation in an international situation that was “complicated and fast changing”, Xinhua reported.
The two leaders agreed to further boost bilateral cooperation in science and technology, innovation, connectivity, infrastructure construction, clean energy and regional-level exchanges.

Donald Trump, who won the US presidential election on an anti-globalisation platform, will be inaugurated on Friday, the final day of the Davos forum.
Fears that a new wave of populism will hit Europe are growing, with at least three elections to be conducted on the continent this year, including ones in Germany, the Netherlands and France.
Zhang Shengjun, a professor of international relations at Beijing Normal University, said Switzerland was one of the more stable countries in Europe and well connected to other states in the region.
“Both Europe and the US are facing great uncertainties with Brexit [Britain’s vote to leave the EU] and the rise of right-wing populism,” Zhang said.
Xi Jinping to be first Chinese president to attend Davos World Economic Forum
“There is a great need for China to step up and provide reassurance and confidence to the world on pushing ahead with ­globalisation.”
Ding Chun, director of the Centre for European Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said Switzerland – the first European nation to recognise China’s market economy status in 2007 – was amenable to Beijing’s pro-trade agenda.
In his remarks to the Swiss executives, Xi said that China’s economy would remain stable and keep growing.
scmp.com will have live transmission of Xi’s speech at Davos Tuesday late afternoon.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Xi Jinping

Chinese president presses pro-trade message in Switzerland before landmark Davos address

Swiss Federal President Doris Leuthard, right, and President Xi Jinping shake hands before official talks in Bern, Switzerland, on Monday. Photo: AP

epa05721673 China's President Xi Jinping (C), his wife Peng Liyuan (L) and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter (R) eat Swiss cheese fondue for lunch during a two day state visit to Switzerland in Bern, Switzerland, 16 January 2017. EPA/PETER KLAUNZER / POOL

Chinese President Xi Jinping travels to Davos with a tough sell on his hands

World looking for clues on direction of world’s second-biggest economy

Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab poses on January 10, 2017 at its headquarters in Cologny near Geneva. The World Economy Forum (WEF) annual meeting will take place from 17 to the 20 of January 2017 and will be focus on Responsive and Responsible Leadership. / AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI

China Premier Li Peng arrives at the Great Hall of the People for the third session of the eighth Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the eight National People's Congress (NPC). As the top body of state power, the NPC serves as the legislative body of the Constitution, while the CPPCC plays an advisory role to the Chinese Government on major state policies and issues concerning the welfare of the people. 18MAR95 ***NOT FOR ADVERTISING USE***

China's Premier Li Keqiang reacts during The Global Impact of China's Economic Transformation event in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos January 21, 2015. More than 1,500 business leaders and 40 heads of state or government will attend the Jan. 21-24 meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to network and discuss big themes, from the price of oil to the future of the Internet. This year they are meeting in the midst of upheaval, with security forces on heightened alert after attacks in Paris, the European Central Bank considering a radical government bond-buying programme and the safe-haven Swiss franc rocketing. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich (SWITZERLAND - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

(150808) -- BEIJING, Aug. 8, 2015 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao meets with an innovation and entrepreneurship-themed delegation of young people from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 8, 2015. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) (lfj)

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Swiss President Doris Leuthard walk past an honour guard of the Swiss Army upon his arrival for an official visit to Switzerland at the airport in Zurich, Switzerland January 15, 2017. Photo: Reuters

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President expected to cover similar ground in keynote speech to World Economic Forum


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Update | Chinese president presses pro-trade message in Switzerland before landmark Davos address

President expected to cover similar ground in keynote speech to World Economic Forum