What they say

China is playing an increasingly prominent role on the world stage, and what China does is an increasingly important factor in how the world moves. Davos is a unique forum that brings together - on fully neutral ground - heads of state and government, business leaders and thinkers of all sorts. The presence of Premier Li is a sign that Davos maintains its relevance and usefulness, and that China is determined to play its role as a world leader.

Mark Halle, vice-president and executive director of the European office of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, based in Geneva, Switzerland