A speech by the U.N. chief, economic growth potential in places like China and Russia, the challenges of artificial intelligence, and appearances by leaders from Spain to Malaysia are set to headline the agenda at the World Economic Forum's annual event in Davos on Wednesday.

Officials and business executives at the annual gathering in Switzerland said the fight against global climate change would continue with or without the United States.

The World Economic Forum has held a meeting every year since it was founded in 1971. But why is Davos, as it is commonly known, so significant?