Fighting trade protectionism, anti-globalization and boosting confidence in the Chinese economy will be high on President Xi Jinping's agenda as he becomes the first top Chinese leader to attend the World Economic Forum next week, observers said.

Xi will pay a state visit to Switzerland on Jan 15 to 18 and attend the forum's annual meeting in Davos on Jan 17 alongside corporate and political leaders, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by Premier Li Keqiang in 2015 and by Vice-President Li Yuanchao last year.