Switzerland’s president speaks

Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, has welcomed delegates to the WEF annual meeting in Davos. 

In his speech, which follows that of WEF founder Klaus Schwab and starts after 8.45 minutes, he called for determination and resolution during “truly turbulent times”. 

“No times are ever calm, of course. But even just 12 months ago, the global mood was more upbeat, and the world order seemed a fair bit firmer than it does today. 2015 brought us endless flows of refugees, murderous terrorism and economic crisis. And it brought further worries, too: paralyzing debt, raging wars and simmering conflicts,” he said.

“But it would be a fatal mistake to react to this backdrop with resignation instead of resolve. Because if we look at the bigger picture, we also see well-functioning democracies, well-performing industries, blossoming new markets and growth.”

swissinfo.ch newsdesk