U.S. President Trump is to speak to an international audience for the first time after returning into the White House with a speech and Q&A by video conference to the World Economic Forum’s annual event in Davos on Thursday.

In 2017, weeks after Donald Trump’s first presidential election victory, Xi Jinping became the first Chinese head of state to address the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland — winning applause as he inveighed against protectionism and declared that a trade war would hurt both sides.

China's Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang at the 55th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman China does not pursue a trade surplus and is willing to import more competitive and high-quality products and services to balance trade, Ding Xuexiang, the country's vice premier, said on Tuesday.