Students play role of 'mayor'

A team participating in the "If I Were the Mayor" competition presents ideas on urban issues. [Photo/Central University of Finance and Economics]

How to ease the conflict between local residents and African expats in Guangzhou? How to help migrants settle in Beijing through an efficient and impartial rating system? And what can be done to improve Wuhan's garbage recycling system?

These were just some of the tricky urban problems were posed to some mayor wannabes on Sunday at the "If I Were the Mayor" sponsored by the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing.

Nine teams from eight prestigious universities across China attended the event that was designed to test the students' ability to think and act like a city governor.

The competition, which has been held each year since 2011, forces participants to explore ways to tackle difficult problems in city development through simulations and video presentations.