With Donald Trump absent, Wang Qishan will seek to make China’s case at World Economic Forum in Davos
- Vice-president expected to convey message on contentious issues to delegations from other countries including Europeans, Japanese and South Americans
- ‘Firefighter’ will also try to convince corporate executives and opinion leaders
There will be no US delegation, French president or British prime minister at Davos next week, but analysts say that will not make Chinese “firefighter” Wang Qishan’s task – delivering Beijing’s message to the world’s political and business elite – any easier.
The White House on Thursday cancelled its ministerial-level delegation’s trip to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort town from January 22-25 after US President Donald Trump last week said he would not attend.
The US team was to be led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and included Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell.
Their absence from the annual gathering means Wang, China’s vice-president, will not have the opportunity to hold talks with any top US officials in Davos – meaning the key negotiations will be left to Vice-Premier Liu He when he visits Washington at the end of the month.
Zhang Yuquan, who specialises in American studies at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, said “the current atmosphere is no good” for relations between China and the United States.