The 2026 Summer Davos forum, officially known as the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting of the New Champions, was held in Dalian, Liaoning province in northeast China, with the theme "Innovating at Scale."

Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and rapid technological transformation, it brought together more than 1,700 representatives from business, government, academia and civil society, along with leaders of fast-growing enterprises, to explore practical solutions for sustaining growth and fostering global cooperation.

Commitment to openness

The Chinese officials attending the forum underscored the country's commitment to contributing to global economic growth through innovation, green development and opening up. They also reiterated support for an inclusive form of economic globalization that delivers benefits more broadly.

Elizabeth Thurbon, professor of international political economy at the University of New South Wales, Australia, said China's rise has been inseparable from decades of engagement with the global economy.

China's swift economic development was not achieved through isolation or zero-sum thinking. It was built on opening up, attracting investment, participating in global markets and creating opportunities for hundreds of millions of people, Thurbon added.

A uniquely critical market

As the global economy faces increasing fragmentation, many participants emphasized the importance of maintaining open markets and deepening international collaboration.

Pontus Erntell, who oversees IKEA's operations in China, described the country as a strategic market where the Swedish home-furnishing giant has built a strong presence over many years.

"China is one of very few countries outside of Sweden where we have all parts of the value chain. It is a market where we truly want to develop, learn and collaborate with local partners," he said.

Learning from China's experience

Innovation was one of the central themes of this year's meeting.

On June 23, the opening day, the WEF released its report, Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2026, highlighting the breakthroughs expected to reshape industries, public policy and society over the next five years. The report identified technologies ranging from everything to grid energy systems and direct lithium extraction to personalized mRNA cancer vaccines.

According to WEF managing director Mirek Dusek, countries around the world are increasingly interested in learning from China's innovation-driven development experience.

China's growing strength in emerging technologies has drawn particular attention. By 2025, the country was home to more than 6,000 artificial intelligence enterprises, with the core AI industry expected to exceed 1.2 trillion RMB in value.

Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development show that Chinese AI companies attracted approximately 13.9 billion USD in venture capital investment in 2025, ranking third globally behind only the U.S. and the European Union.

The sustained confidence of international investors in China's technological and innovation potential also contributed to the strong interest in this year's Summer Davos gathering.