The 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026, known as "Summer Davos," convened in Dalian, China, drawing over 1,800 global leaders from more than 90 countries and regions. The gathering included 90 government leaders, 1,000 senior business executives, and 200 leaders of unicorns and Technology Pioneers, according to a World Economic Forum news release.
Key Themes and High-Level Participation
Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended alongside six heads of government. The meeting addressed five critical questions: global prosperity, China's economic trajectory, technology utilisation, job creation for the next generation, and alignment of energy and climate systems.
Premier Li Qiang emphasised the global responsibility of technological advancements. "We should harness technology for good. Innovation drives humanity's quest for a better life," Li Qiang said. "Advanced technologies should serve as tools that benefit people across countries, rather than sources of chaos that undermine peace and stability. Technology progress should always reflect humanity's common values and advance global peace and development."
Asia's Economic Outlook and China's Role
The Forum highlighted that Asia is projected to deliver over half of global GDP growth in 2026, with China expected to account for over a quarter of global real GDP growth. Discussions noted that China's economic trajectory will be fueled by artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. However, the dialogue also shifted toward the widening gap between technological potential and real-world economic outcomes, as productivity growth across most economies remains sluggish.
Bridging the Innovation Gap
Alois Zwinggi, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, stressed the need to close the gap between innovation and economic impact. "The next phase of innovation is about closing the gap between technological potential and real-world economic impact, to translate breakthroughs into tangible progress for industry and people," Zwinggi said. "Innovating at scale requires partnership across a range of sectors, including government, business, and academia. The meeting in Dalian focused on practical solutions that deliver growth for all."
Workforce Transitions and Skills Investment
Workforce transitions formed a core theme, with an estimated 40 per cent of global employment exposed to artificial intelligence. Leaders explored how emerging technologies can accelerate industrial growth without leading to jobless growth, emphasising that long-term economic expansion relies heavily on steady investments in education and skills.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Forum Director, pointed out that the true value of innovation lies in its social impact. "Innovation truly boosts economies once it reaches people and improves their lives, work, income and health. The next billion jobs will be created by the economies that invest as much in education, skills and entrepreneurship as in technology itself," Zahidi said.
Conclusion and Outlook
The Summer Davos meeting in Dalian underscored the urgency of value creation through entrepreneurship, energy transition, and digital transformation. Leaders from business, government, civil society, international organisations, and academia collaborated on practical solutions to build more sustainable economic systems.
