Najib arrives in Zurich for World Economic Forum

ZURICH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived here to attend the 45th World Economic Forum (WEF).

Najib, who arrived at 10.10pm (local time) was received at the Zurich ExecuJet Terminal of the Zurich International Airport by Malaysian Ambassador to Switzerland Datuk Mohd Zulkephli Mohd Noor and his wife Datin Anna Amalina Imam Baweh.

Making his second appearance at the WEF as Prime Minister, Najib is leading the Malaysian delegation to this year's forum, themed "The New Global Context."

Najib is expected to deliver a strong message as well as lay the right foundation towards the realisation of the Asean Economic Community in line with Malaysia's chairmanship of the regional grouping this year.

Besides Najib, other head of states or government that have confirmed their participation include King Abdullah II of Jordan and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

The annual forum will be held in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubunden, the eastern Alps region of Switzerland, located about two hours drive from Zurich.

It will see the congregation of more than 40 world leaders and more than 2,500 participants comprising chief executive officers, academic scholars, regional experts, policy makers and business leaders from 140 countries.

Najib is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his Kazakhstan counterpart Karim Massimov, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and  Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

He will also hold talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry. 

The WEF, which is a Swiss non-profit foundation based in Cologny, Geneva, is an independent international organisation committed in bringing business, political, academic and other leaders to improve the state of the world. - Bernama