BEIJING — During the Davos summit last week, where high-profile leaders discussed U.S. interests in Greenland, China's representative emphasized the need for international cooperation.
Chinese businesses and analysts viewed these developments as a chance for China to extend its global influence amidst rising tensions involving the U.S. and its allies.
This year's Davos represents a significant turning point, commented Hai Zhao, a director at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a think tank affiliated with the state. He noted a potential move towards regional trade as countries might shift focus from a U.S.-dominated global economy.
China, the world's second-largest economy, sent Vice Premier He Lifeng to Davos. He promoted business prospects in China and advocated for equitable treatment of Chinese companies. In his speech on Tuesday, He highlighted U.S.-China trade negotiations as a form of cooperation, without delving into specifics concerning other nations.
While He's comments received less attention compared to other leaders, notable moments included U.S. President Donald Trump's personal remarks about other leaders and a subsequent moderation of his stance on Greenland. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed potential trade agreements, including a possibly 'historic' deal with India.
Significantly, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed a 'rupture in the world order' in a speech praised by many pundits as potentially historic.
However, according to Chinese analysts, it was Beijing's steady narrative that might exert a more profound global impact. Wei Wang from Tianjin University of Commerce mentioned that U.S. tensions with Europe could benefit China's ties with the bloc. He suggested that the Greenland issue might hasten the Western realization that competition with China is unproductive and underscore the shift of global power towards the East.