The World Economic Forum gets underway in Switzerland today.

More than 40 heads of state and government are gathering in Davos-Klosters in Switzerland to discuss global issues. Taoiseach Enda Kenny is among those attending the meeting.

2,500 leaders from business and society are also participating in the conference to discuss this year's central theme 'The New Global Context'.

The meeting will run from today until Saturday, and many of the forum's events are being webcast on the World Economic Forum's website.

In his welcoming remarks last night, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, outlines the aims of the conference: