Davos 2020 kicks off

By Aysu Bicer

DAVOS, Switzerland (AA) - The annual World Economic Forum (WEF) kicked off on Tuesday, with a focus on both U.S. President Donald Trump struggling with domestic impeachment charges and teenage activist Greta Thunberg looking to force the global financial elite to act against climate change.

About 3,000 people, of whom 24% are women, from 117 countries, are set to gather in the ski town nestled in the Swiss Alps for the 50th anniversary of the four-day WEF.

Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are among 53 state and government heads who will be attending the forum.

In the face of impeachment charges, Trump will give the first keynote speech on the first day of the meeting.

Special addresses are expected from Merkel, Iraq's President Barham Salih, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Turkey has a very strong ministerial representation with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Turkey's Central Bank Governor Murat Uysal.

- Strict security

Swiss authorities have taken tight security measures around Davos, inspecting roads and railways linking the town, and posting snipers on tall buildings and hills as helicopters buzz above.

Civilians coming to Davos are tightly searched, with laptops, bags and metal items being scanned in X-ray devices.

The fact that U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the summit causes the security measures to be made more tightly.