High-level international forum to focus on future of urban areas

The third High-Level International Forum on Sustainable Urban Development will be held in Chengdu from today to Wednesday, highlighting the latest challenges and opportunities for cities and regions across the globe.

The forum is sponsored by the National Development and Reform Commission and organized by the China Center for Urban Development, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and Chengdu city government.

During the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in April, the Chinese government and the UN-Habitat signed an agreement on a joint action plan, and the High-Level International Forum on Sustainable Urban Development is listed in that plan.

Policymakers, urban administrators, scholars and businesspeople are invited to attend the forum, who will discuss topics including urban development, urban-rural integration, children-friendly cities and green development.

The 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by the United Nations in 2015, will again be a highlight of discussion.

During the forum, the National Development and Reform Commission will hold a roundtable conference with the UN-Habitat, the World Health Organization and other international organizations to discuss the possibility of forming a cooperative mechanism to promote sustainable development under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The best ideas and practices will be shared at the roundtable meeting.

According to Chengdu city's development and reform commission, the UN-Habitat and China Center for Urban Development will release a document entitled the Guiding Principles for Chengdu's Sustainable Development, to offer suggestions for the city's growth.

Chengdu city hosted two sessions of the forum in 2017 and 2018, which had achieved positive results.

The forum is seen as an important part of implementing the action plans proposed at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Delegates from more than 20 countries attended the 2017 forum.

The Chengdu Declaration was announced during the event and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme released a list of the first batch of international pilot cities in sustainable development which included Chengdu.

The first International Sustainable Urban Development Expo was held during the 2018 forum, exhibiting frontier technologies, innovative services and best practices in the field.

(China Daily 07/15/2019 page12)