World Economic Forum leaders and Chinese Premier Li Qiang opened the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026 during a press conference in Shanghai [1].
The gathering serves as a strategic pivot for global leaders to address systemic instability. By focusing on scalable solutions and innovation, the forum aims to stabilize international economic cooperation amid ongoing disruption.
The event took place on May 18, 2026 [1]. This meeting brings together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry heads to discuss the intersection of technology and governance. The primary objective of the session is to convert global disruptions into tangible opportunities through increased cooperation [1, 2].
Premier Li Qiang said during the opening proceedings to outline the meeting's priorities. The agenda emphasizes the need for innovation to drive growth and the implementation of scalable solutions to address shared global challenges [1, 2].
Shanghai served as the host city for the summit, highlighting the region's role as a hub for new economic champions. The forum's structure allows for high-level dialogue between state leaders and private sector innovators, a necessity for coordinating responses to volatile market shifts [1].
Throughout the press conference, the speakers said the necessity of multilateralism. The forum intends to move beyond theoretical discussions to create actionable frameworks that can be applied across different jurisdictions [2].
“turning global disruption into opportunity through innovation”
The emphasis on 'scalable solutions' and 'global disruption' suggests that the WEF and Chinese leadership are acknowledging a period of high volatility in the global economy. By hosting the event in Shanghai, China is positioning itself as a central coordinator for the next wave of technological and economic innovation, signaling a desire to lead the transition from disruption to stability.
