World Economic Forum evolves with time

The World Economic Forum is a Geneva-based foundation that brings together top business and political leaders, as well as academics, to an annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Originally established to discuss global economic issues, the changing international environment has witnessed the forum expand its topics to include key global issues such as international conflicts, poverty and environmental problems. As the number of participants expands and its influence grows, it's become one of the highest-level non-official meetings on the global economy. China started to send delegates after an invitation to the forum from 1979.