The founder of the World Economic Forum say delegates at this year's meeting will discuss both the global downturn and the future of the world economy.

Klaus Schwab was speaking on the eve of the 39th Annual Meeting in Davos.

He says the current economic crisis is a transitional one and hopes his gathering will encourage leaders to go away feeling a bit more optimistic.

Klaus Schwab, Founder & Exec, Chair of World Economic Forum, said, "We are still in the midst of the crisis, let's face it. But a lot of discussions will be devoted to the present crisis management and how to get out of the crisis, but we will look also at the world after the crisis, because this is a transformational crisis and the world certainly will be different afterwards compared what it has been before."

(CCTV January 22, 2009)