- Title: World needs open markets, free trade, not protectionism, says WEF
- Date: 16th January 2017
- Summary: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 16, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SWISS SKI RESORT OF DAVOS, VENUE FOR ANNUAL WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (WEF) MEETING PHILIPP ROESLER, MEMBER OF THE WEF'S MANAGING BOARD, ARRIVING FOR INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF THE WEF'S MANAGING BOARD, PHILIPP ROESLER, SAYING: "We do see a trend towards more protectionism. But from our point of view we need a strong stance in terms of global trade, open markets, free trade and fair competition. That could be a solution that was benefiting the people across the world in the past and the economy will globalise itself certainly even in the future. So the solution cannot be that politicians are focusing more and more on a national level, because then, the globalisation of the business will be out of any control or regulation. So I think, again, here the best way is global cooperation and again, that's the purpose of this year's annual meeting." "DAVOS" LOGO ON ROOFTOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEMBER OF THE WEF'S MANAGING BOARD, PHILIPP ROESLER, SAYING: "So we have for the first time the president of the People's Republic of China and he will talk about the question of globalisation, the need for global trade for the benefit of all the people across the world. At the same time we see a kind of trend in many countries to look more inwards, rather than having this outreach. So it's a strong symbol to have the Chinese president here, particularly this week." MOUNTAINTOP (SOUNDBITE) (German) MEMBER OF THE WEF'S MANAGING BOARD, PHILIPP ROESLER, SAYING (on absence of Merkel, Hollande, Trudeau): "For the first time we have the Chinese president here at the World Economic Forum and at a time when in the United States and many other countries the focus is more domestic. We understand this as a great signal to have the Chinese president here to discuss the world economy and the necessity for a world economy. All this represents the charm and the attractiveness of this year's World Economic Forum here in Davos." SNOW COVERED BUILDINGS (SOUNDBITE) (German) MEMBER OF THE WEF'S MANAGING BOARD, PHILIPP ROESLER, SAYING (on absence of Merkel): "We have a strong German delegation coming here. I think everyone will understand that the (German) Chancellor (Angela Merkel) has little time because of her tight schedule but we have the German finance minister (Wolfgang Schaeuble) who will address the important issues on the euro zone and Europe during the discussions. We have (German defence minister) Mrs. (Ursula) von der Leyen here, a good friend of the Forum and on our board of trustees. She will not just talk about defence but also the influence of the fourth industrial revolution on defence and security policies." VARIOUS OF CONFERENCE CENTRE INTERIORS AHEAD OF START OF MEETING
- Embargoed: 30th January 2017 15:01
- Keywords: WEF Davos Trump protectionism free trade global
- Location: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
- City: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZBWAIV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Global cooperation, open markets and free trade are the key to success in the world's economy, not protectionism, said the World Economic Forum's (WEF) board member Philipp Roesler on Monday (January 16).
Speaking to Reuters Television ahead of the official opening of the annual meeting in Davos, Roesler, a former German economy minister, said "we do see a trend towards more protectionism."
"From our point of view we need a strong stance in terms of global trade, open markets, free trade and fair competition."
"The solution cannot be that politicians are focusing more and more on a national level, because then, the globalisation of the business will be out of any control or regulation."
Roesler said "the best way is global cooperation, ... the purpose of this year's annual meeting."
His remarks came shortly before German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble issued a warning to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump over the dangers of protectionist trade policies.
Asked whether the WEF's importance was shrinking due to the absence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Roesler said "for the first time we have the Chinese president here at the World Economic Forum and this at a time when in the United States and many other countries the focus is more domestic."
"We understand this as a great signal to have the Chinese president here to discuss the world economy and the necessity for a world economy."
The WEF's annual meeting begins on Tuesday, Jan. 17, with Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking in the morning. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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