DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 26 (AFP) - According to its organisers, the World Economic Forum offers an unequalled opportunity for the world's political and economic elite to get together to thrash out truly global issues.
The picturesque background, a ski resort tucked away in the Swiss Alps, is conducive to schmoozing and networking among the 2,200 guests, who range from presidents and prime ministers to corporate chiefs, non-governmental agencies and think tanks.
Public sessions tackle issues from the Middle East to climate change, good governance to corporate ethics, and tackling poverty to mulling the economic impact of obesity.
But much is done in private, either at the forum itself or in the bars and corridors of surrounding hotels.
Following are lists of some of the main participants at the five-day fest, which began Wednesday and runs until Sunday.
From politics:
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was to formally open the gathering with a speech focusing on climate change and poverty as the key themes of his presidency of the G8 group of leading industrialised nations.
French President Jacques Chirac, expected to push his plan for some form of international tax to fund development in poorer countries.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, newly inaugurated.
Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo, to join a discussion with Blair on tackling Africa's problems.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, freshly installed, at a key juncture for the Middle East peace process.
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and Deputy Prime Ministers Shimon Peres and Ehud Olmert.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is expected to push talks on Ankara's accession to the European Union.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, due to join a closing debate.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.
Amr Mussa, head of the Arab League.
US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick.
Former US president Bill Clinton.
From business:
Bill Gates, Microsoft chief, billionaire and co-chairman of the forum.
John Thain, chairman and chief executive officer of the New York Stock Exchange, also a co-chairman.
Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO of Novartis, co-chairman.
Lubna Olayan, CEO of Olayan Financing Company, Saudi Arabia, co-chairman.
N.R. Narayana Murthy, chairman of Infosys Technologies, India, co-chairman.
Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank.
Kevan Watts, chairman of Merrill Lynch International.
Morgan Stanley chief economist Stephen Roach.
Hiromasa Yonekura, president and CEO of Sumitomo Chemical Co, Japan.
Hassan Marican, president and CEO of Petronas, Malaysia.
George Soros, of Soros Fund Management.
Henry McKinnell, chairman and CEO of Pfizer.
Klaus Kleinfeld, president and CEO of Siemens, Germany.
Carly Fiorina, chairman and CEO of HP
The best of the rest:
World Health Organisation Director General Lee Jong-Wook.
UNAIDS programme Executive Director Peter Piot.
Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Bono, Irish musician and campaigner on AIDS, debt relief and poverty.
Angelina Jolie, goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
World Trade Organisation Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi.
OPEC Conference President Ahmad Fahad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, also the Kuwaiti energy minister.
Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Richard Gere, president of Gere Foundation.
Lionel Richie, musician.
Sharon Stone, actress.
01/26/2005 12:04 GMT - AFP