Klaus Schwab praised China while in the communist country during the WEF’s Annual Meeting of New Champions in Tianjin  — lauding the country’s social development and COVID response. 

Chinese citizens protesting their government’s COVID restrictions were beaten in the streets – and some even burned alive while forcibly locked inside their own apartments.

But Schwab, 84, skipped over these little tidbits when mentioning how great China’s Premier Li has done not only with COVID in 2023, but the country’s “social dynamism” as well.

“Premier Li took his office this March at China’s National People’s Congress at a critical moment when China adopted new COVID control measures and started to boost economic development, social dynamism, and international cooperation,” Schwab said.

He added, “For this special occasion today, we are extremely honored to have here with us your excellency Li Qiang, premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.” 

On top of China’s dystopian COVID measures, the communist leaders also have a social credit system, which includes publicly shaming citizens who violate expected levels of behaviour, such as what citizens spend their money on. 

The Chinese Communist Party regularly warns citizens to be well-behaved to avoid losing their social credit ranking. 

For citizens with a poor social credit score, they are unable to perform basic tasks like taking a bus or traveling out of province.

It’s the second time the WEF has congratulated China for its COVID response. In January, WEF president Borge Brende brushed off the country’s COVID human rights abuses by calling them a minor challenge to China’s economic success. 

“(China’s response) will lead to stronger and more prosperous growth, even if this immediate situation is a bit challenging,” said Brende.

“Overall, for late 2023 and 2024, we’re very optimistic on growth in China.”