Top quotes on eve of Trump visit to Davos

DAVOS: Here is a serving of quotes from the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, as anticipation grew for the arrival of US President Donald Trump.

'Difficult to handle that kind of person'

"That’s a difficult case. It is very difficult to handle that kind of person because they have absolutely no consideration for others. They are so focused on themselves that they do not listen." — Matthieu Ricard, a French Buddhist monk and author, on what he would say if he crossed paths at Davos with Donald Trump. Ricard has been encouraging stressed-out delegates to meditate.

'Weaker dollar is good'

 

"Obviously a weaker dollar is good for us, it’s good because it has to do with trade and opportunities." — US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in comments that sent the dollar plummeting and were seen as a green light from Washington to let the value of the greenback crumble to support US exports.

Trade wars 'in place for quite a little while'

 

"Trade wars have been in place for quite a little while. The difference is the US troops are now coming to the ramparts." — US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, staunchly defending new US tariffs on solar panels and large washing machines, which have angered China and South Korea.

'Don’t use trade as a weapon'

 

"It’s so easy to launch a trade war, but it’s so difficult to stop the disaster of this war. Don’t use trade as a weapon, use trade as a solution to solve problems." — Alibaba boss Jack Ma, a Davos regular, firing back at the Trump administration.

'Margaret Thatcher was good to us'

 

"I will be glad to see the Lady May because Margaret Thatcher was good to us. May is good to us, all the British male prime ministers were not." — Zimbabwe’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, ahead of bilateral talks on Thursday with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

'I’m not to be pitied'

 

"Please... do not pity me, I’m not to be pitied." — German Chancellor Angela Merkel, responding to concern by World Economic Forum head Klaus Schwab, as the woman who was once Europe’s unrivalled leader struggles to form a coalition government in Berlin.

'France is back'

 

"France is back at the core of Europe." — French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in English, before switching to French to outline his vision of a new "social compact" for globalisation.

COVER IMAGE: A logo of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is seen as people attend WEF annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse