Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum
Addressing the opening ceremony, Schwab said participants at the meeting will have to look at all the global challenges and shape the future of the world over the next four days.
In an increasingly interconnected world, globalization 4.0 has to be human-centered, more inclusive, and more sustainable, Schwab said, adding that much emphasis was put on environmental issues at the forum.
In an article published in US magazine Foreign Affairs, Schwab wrote, like its predecessors, the fourth industrial revolution is defined by its leading technologies: artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and the internet of things. "
"In this world, globalization won't disappear; it will deepen. If in the past global integration grew as trade barriers came down, it will now rely on the connectivity of national digital and virtual systems and the related flow of ideas and services. This is the core of Globalization 4.0," he wrote.
Ken Hu, deputy chairman and rotating chairman of Huawei
With globalization 4.0, a new wave of globalization in a digital world, more focus will be shifted from business benefits to social value, said Ken Hu, deputy chairman and rotating chairman of Huawei.
Hu said the fifth generation (5G) of cellular mobile communications technology will be rolled out in 110 countries by 2025, and is expected to bring unprecedented benefits to consumers, businesses and society.
He said the technology has the potential to make life better for people with disabilities, provide more widespread access to banking services, and grow more food for expanding populations.
"The World Economic Forum is a great platform to explore the social value it can bring to us," Hu said, adding that the social value to be created should be part of the key considerations for businesses.
Rajeev Suri, president and CEO of Nokia
Suri called for a coalition of government and businesses to develop solid privacy and cybersecurity policies that can be applied across a range of countries. He also said that it is important to spread awareness of the benefits of globalization 4.0 and 5G technology.
