Opening Address of Annual Meeting 2000 of World Economic Forum

<正> We are all here together for the first global Summit of the 21st century —a global gathering bringing together political, business, intellectual and civic leaders to define the new beginnings and to make a positive contribution. "New beginnings: making a difference" is, as you know, the theme of our Annual Meeting. There is one striking feature that differentiates this year's Annual Meeting from the last ones: at this particular moment, we are not confronted with any overwhelming crisis. You will recall that in 1999 we were deeply worried about the global economic outlook; and two years ago, it was the Asian crisis which was at the centre of our attention. This year, witlhout such a crisis preoccupying our minds, we have even more reasons to look at the truly important fundamental, long-term challenges of our world at the beginning of the new millennium.