BEIJING — While prominent world leaders in Davos last week discussed U.S. interests in Greenland, China's envoy emphasized the importance of international cooperation.
Business experts and analysts in China observed that these events present an opportunity for Beijing to strengthen its global influence, particularly as tensions between the U.S. and its allies continue to rise.
This year's Davos marks a "watershed" moment, according to Hai Zhao, a director of international political studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a state-affiliated think tank. He suggested that there would be a shift towards regional trade systems, moving away from a U.S.-centric global economy.
China, the world's second-largest economy, sent He Lifeng, one of its four vice premiers, to participate in Davos. He promoted business opportunities in China and advocated for fair treatment of Chinese companies. In his address on Tuesday, He pointed to U.S.-China trade talks as a model of cooperation but avoided discussing other countries.
Although His comments received less attention than those of other global leaders, his speech was significant. U.S. President Donald Trump gained headlines for personal remarks aimed at foreign leaders and subsequently softened his position on Greenland.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed potential trade agreements, including a possibly "historic" deal with India. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted "a rupture in the world order" during a brief speech which many commentators praised as potentially historic.
Analysts in China, however, believe that Beijing's consistent messaging will have a more significant global impact. Wei Wang, a researcher at Tianjin University of Commerce, indicated that U.S.-European tensions could benefit China's relationship with the European bloc.
He suggested that the Greenland controversy might speed up the Western acknowledgment of ineffective competition with China while reinforcing the perception that global power is increasingly moving eastward.