PM looks to set tone in Davos economic forum

A worker makes last preparations inside the Davos Congress Centre ahead of the opening of the 40th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone/Associated Press)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is heading to Davos, Switzerland to meet with other world leaders, captains of industry and big thinkers.

The World Economic Forum is an annual invitation-only event held at a ski resort in the Swiss Alps.

This year's theme is "Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild" -- after last year's disastrous financial crisis.

With Davos being the first major international gathering of the year, Harper is hoping to use this to set the tone for the coming G8 and G20 summits.

This year, it's Canada's turn to hold the presidency and host the meetings of the world's largest economies.

Harper will deliver a key-note address to the meeting on Thursday, where officials say he will make a call to tackle the problem of maternal and infant mortality in the developing world, which the Canadian government announced today will be a key priority at this summer's G8/G20 meetings.

After that speech Harper, will also participate in a panel on global governance along with the leaders of Mexico, South Korea, Vietnam, Spain, and South Africa.

The rest of Harper's schedule in Switzerland is a "work in progress" -- there are no confirmed bilateral meetings and the "possibility" of a round-table meeting with business leaders on Wednesday.