China takes center stage at Davos

Nation's key role in global recovery figures in talks

China's key role in shaping the global economic recovery figured prominently in the deliberations at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which began in the Swiss ski resort of Davos this week.

Even as politicians, central bankers and business leaders strive to find quick fixes to the problems plaguing the global economy, China underlined its growing stature by sending its biggest ever delegation to the meeting.

Led by Commerce Minister Chen Deming, the 66-member delegation includes top businesses leaders and executives who will hold talks on a host of topics ranging from trade, investment and economic growth.

Chen is also expected to discuss several issues concerning multilateral trade during his meetings with World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy and other leaders.

At the same time, several nations are also expected to utilize the opportunity to sew up trade deals with China.

Switzerland will utilize the WEF meeting to make headway in the Free Trade Agreement talks with China.

Swiss Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann will meet Chen during the summit and expects to land several lucrative trade deals.

"The chances are good that we can conclude a free trade agreement with China before the EU," Schneider-Ammann was cited as saying. "This would present Switzerland with a big competitive advantage."

A feasibility study published last year suggested that Switzerland's gross domestic product could be boosted by nearly 0.23 percent while firms could make annual savings of 290 million Swiss Francs (221 million euros) every year if trade barriers between the two countries are lifted.

China is Switzerland's third-biggest export market after the EU and the United States and is also home to more than 300 Swiss companies.

But the overall tone for the Davos meeting will continue to be the fragile global recovery. With China emerging as a key player for future global economic growth, there is also growing pressure on the nation to shift its investment and export-oriented strategy to a more consumption-driven approach.

An overwhelming majority of business leaders and executives expect China to be the main driver for economic growth.

A survey of more than 1,200 global business leaders conducted by consultancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers recently revealed that 39 percent consider China to be the main global economic engine, followed by the United States, Brazil and India with 21 percent, 19 percent and 18 percent.

PwC's 14th Annual Global CEO Survey was released on the eve of the Davos summit.

The survey, conducted in 69 countries during the last quarter of 2010, also showed CEOs' confidence in future growth.