Urban innovation takes center stage in Guangzhou

The Guangzhou Urban Innovation Award event has concentrated wisdom for urban innovation to help realize the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, the mayor of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said on the 10th anniversary of the award.

Over the past decade, 556 cities from 96 countries and regions contributed 1,361 cases and have responded proactively to the 17 sustainable development goals of the UN, the mayor, Guo Yonghang, said on Monday at the 2022 Workshop for Thought Leaders celebrating the anniversary.

The award has also promoted exchanges and cooperation among cities worldwide and focused on research on urban innovation to provide high-quality public goods, he said.

The Guangzhou Award gathers all the information in the urban innovation database, a bank of searchable global initiatives on urban innovation, with documented theories, practices, news and research reports regarding urban innovation and the building of livable communities, said Jordi Vaquer, secretary-general of the World Association of Major Metropolises.

The Guangzhou Award is co-sponsored by United Cities and Local Governments, the World Association of Major Metropolises and the city of Guangzhou.