China and the United States highlighted the stark contrast in their approaches to global challenges at the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos this week, which was held under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue.

China's message, delivered by Vice-Premier He Lifeng on Tuesday, was clear and consistent: the country sees itself as a reliable partner committed to multilateralism and free trade.

Amid rising unilateralism and protectionism, and the impact of regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions, He told the audience "the world must not return to the law of the jungle, where the strong will eat the weak".

With global economic growth losing momentum, He said expanding the overall economic "pie" together was more important than fighting over existing shares, and that China advocates universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

China has placed domestic demand at the top of its policy agenda this year, the vice-premier said, with the government working to raise incomes and boost consumption. He invited companies from around the world to seize opportunities in the Chinese market with their products and services.

"On top of being the world's factory, we hope to be the world's market too," He said, noting that China has imported more than $15 trillion worth of goods and services during the past five years. He added that China's overseas investment has generated more than $300 million in tax revenue abroad, creating jobs and supporting local economies.

He also said China is willing to deepen cooperation with other countries in science and technology innovation, and to address global challenges in areas including artificial intelligence governance.

On climate change, He reiterated China's commitment to its carbon-neutrality timeline and called for greater international cooperation on green and low-carbon development.

A day later, US President Donald Trump struck a markedly different tone on the same stage. Speaking at the end of the first year of his second term, Trump claimed he had "made America great again" and reiterated his view that the US should acquire Greenland from Denmark for security reasons — an argument that has been widely questioned by fact-checkers — and he seemed to say his country has helped keep its allies afloat and that it was time they paid the US back.

In his hour-long address, Trump aimed a series of criticisms at his country's European allies and at fellow NATO members.

Explaining his position on Greenland, he invoked the US role in defending Europe during World War II, telling the largely European audience: "Without us, right now, you'd all be speaking German and a little Japanese."

He also argued the US had shouldered the bulk of NATO's military costs, and suggested European countries were unable to protect Greenland.

On energy and climate policy, Trump criticized Europe's investment in wind power and the United Kingdom's restrictions on new oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

European leaders largely avoided direct responses to Trump's remarks, but many emphasized the need to reduce excessive reliance on the US and the importance of pursuing greater strategic autonomy.

On Tuesday, France's President Emmanuel Macron said "faced with the brutalization of the world, France and Europe must defend effective multilateralism", and added that it serves the interests of all those who "refuse to submit to the rule of force".

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed that view, saying recent geopolitical shocks have made European independence not just an option, but a necessity.

"The seismic change we are going through today is an opportunity — in fact, a necessity — to build a new form of European independence," she said.

Some analysts attending Davos said the contrasting messages highlighted a broader shift in global leadership narratives, with China being a stabilizing force amid growing divisions.

Joe Ngai, chairman of the consulting company McKinsey's offices in China, said China's consistent messaging stood out.

"Over the past few years' Davos meetings, China has been clear that it is open for business and committed to a stable global order," Ngai said. "China is also working to strengthen consumption, upgrade its industries, and advance technologies that it can share with the rest of the world."

Contact the writer at xingyi@chinadaily.com.cn.