Metropolises
and cities in
transformation

Right now, COVID-19 is still raging across the globe, which poses a severe challenge to global urban governance. It is urgent for global leaders to have a joint discussion about promoting urban governance, urban resilience, sustainable development, and other issues in the post COVID- 19 era. In 2020, the Fifth Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (“Guangzhou Award” in short) was held as scheduled. Out of the 273 projects submitted by 175 cities, 15 shortlisted cities distinguished themselves by offering innovative solutions to urban development.
Each cycle of the Guangzhou Award invites shortlisted cities to participate in the Seminars on Learning from Urban Innovation, where the cities go through a final review and respond to questions from the audience to compete for 5 awards. The Seminars on Learning from Urban Innovation welcome urban policy-makers, managers, researchers, and media from around the world, with the aim to facilitate experience sharing and mutual learning among different cities.
The fifteen shortlisted cities are categorized into four groups, that is, Green Cities, Inclusive Cities, Innovative Cities, and Resilient Cities. This session is for group two to make their cases.
Group two: Inclusive Cities
Urban development accentuates inequalities between the rich and the poor, genders, and generations. Residents are looking forward to an inclusive city more than ever, to make sure no one and no corner will be left behind as the city develops.
The theme for the second session is “Inclusive Cities”, where Unley of Australia, Vienna of Austria, Berhampur of India, and Bandung of Indonesia will share with us how they are building “inclusive cities” with an open attitude and a people-oriented philosophy.

Speakers:
Speaker:
Nicolas YouAdvisor for Guangzhou international Award for Urban Innovation Speaker:
Sylvia CroeseSouth African Research Chair in Spatial Analysis and City Planning, University of the Witwatersrand

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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The places where communities live, work, socialise and take care of each other do not end at a city’s borders. With 1.8 billion people living in metropolitan spaces, these urban spaces are uniquely positioned to bring about change and ensure wellbeing. What is more, cities are rapidly expanding and becoming more interdependent with other municipalities, their rural peripheries and regions.

Metropolisation is a reality in most of our territories, whether it is institutionalised or not. Cities are rapidly expanding and becoming more interdependent with other municipalities, their rural peripheries and regions. Traditional city boundaries are becoming less meaningful and coordination between diverse areas and levels of government at the metropolitan level is essential to ensure sustainability, services and infrastructure.

The New Urban Agenda was adopted by UN Member-States in Quito in 2016 and provides with a strong framework for wellbeing and planning in territories. Over five years after its adoption, some critical challenges remain in order to achieve the goals of the New Urban Agenda.

The UCLG Policy Councils are a policy development mechanism of UCLG, led by locally elected leaders that allow for strengthening the political debate of our World Organization and develop policy recommendations in relation to strategic topics.

The UCLG Policy Council on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda, launched at the UCLG World Council in November 2020, aims to look at the challenges and opportunities associated around the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, a critical corner stone for the development agenda and for the achievement of empowered, inclusive and resilient cities and territories.

As we gear up towards the UN High-Level Meeting on the Review of the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda in April 2022, the UCLG Policy Council will meet jointly with Metropolis leaders and discuss the challenges around the metropolitan vision of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, including territorial planning, governance and generation equality.

Confirmed Speakers:
• Carlos Martínez, Mayor of Soria (Spain), Envoy of the UCLG Presidency on the New Urban Agenda
• Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan (Russian Federation), President of UCLG-Eurasia, President of the United Nations Advisory Committee for Local Authorities (UNACLA)
• Thembisile Nkadimeng, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditionnal Affairs of South-Africa, Co-President of UCLG
• Zhang Wentao, Deputy Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal Government
• Gabriel Cruz, Mayor of Huelva (Spain)
• Peter Kurz, Mayor of Mannheim (Germany) represented by Ms. Emiliy Hruban
• Octavi de la Varga Mas, Secretary General, Metropolis

  Speaker:
Carlos MartínezMayor of Soria Speaker:
Gabriel CruzMayor of Huelva Speaker:
Ilsur MethsinMayor of Kazan Speaker:
Thembisile NkadimengDeputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs of South-Africa

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The Metropolis Policy Debate series offers a space for exchange on challenges and solutions related to metropolitan change. It provides the political representatives of our membership an opportunity to explore basic issues. The theme for dialogue in 2021 is “Novel Solutions that can transform metropolitan spaces in the long term”.This theme connects to the “Call to rethink our metropolitan spaces” to foster a global debate on how to co-create opportunities and improve responses to the profound/historical transformation that the urban spaces are living today as a consequence of, among others, the climate emergency and the crisis generated by the COVID-19.

This Policy Debate intends to caucus a wide variety of political perspectives and propose insights and solutions to enable us to rethink our metropolitan spaces with an actionable and long-term vision.

Format
• Input by representative of the Presidency, Guangzhou [10 min]
• Interactive panel discussions, moderation by Octavi de la Varga, Secretary General of Metropolis [90 min]
• Closing remarks by Octavi de la Varga, Secretary General of Metropolis [10 min]

Contacts
For more information, or any questions you may have regarding the political dialogue please contact Ms Teresa Oliver or Mr Oscar Chamat from the Metropolis Secretariat General.

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Right now, COVID-19 is still raging across the globe, which poses a severe challenge to global urban governance. It is urgent for global leaders to have a joint discussion about promoting urban governance, urban resilience, sustainable development, and other issues in the post COVID- 19 era. In 2020, the Fifth Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (“Guangzhou Award” in short) was held as scheduled. Out of the 273 projects submitted by 175 cities, 15 shortlisted cities distinguished themselves by offering innovative solutions to urban development.
Each cycle of the Guangzhou Award invites shortlisted cities to participate in the Seminars on Learning from Urban Innovation, where the cities go through a final review and respond to questions from the audience to compete for 5 awards. The Seminars on Learning from Urban Innovation welcome urban policy-makers, managers, researchers, and media from around the world, with the aim to facilitate experience sharing and mutual learning among different cities.
The fifteen shortlisted cities are categorized into four groups, that is, Green Cities, Inclusive Cities, Innovative Cities, and Resilient Cities. This session is for group three to make their cases.
Group three: Innovative Cities
Technological innovation offers effective, affordable, and replicable tools for the sustainable development of cities. The use of such innovative tools provides endless fresh energy to the realization of a city’s objectives. The theme for the third session is “Innovative Cities”, where São José dos Pinhais of Brazil, Quito of Ecuador, Cape Town of South Africa, and Los Angeles of the United States will demonstrate how to make better use of innovative tools to promote urban sustainable development.

Speakers:
Speaker:
Nicolas YouAdvisor for Guangzhou international Award for Urban Innovation Speaker:
Anjali MahendraDirector of Global Research at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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Asia, Earth's largest and most populous continent, which concentrates most of Metropolis members (currently 75), has faced an unprecedented speed of urbanisation during the past decades. Very rapidly, small towns have evolved into megacities, and new forms of metropolitan cities are emerging, in processes that placed national and local leaders in front of a series of new challenges in terms of needs, investments, and governance.

Based on the insights of the newly published Asian Metropolitan Report, the second edition of Metropolis regional reports which build on the data provided by our 38 metropolitan indicators launched in 2019, this session will promote an open debate regarding the current and future state of metropolitan spaces in Asia, seeking to inspire decision makers and practitioners in the Asia region to explore innovative, sustainable, and inclusive solutions to metropolisation phenomena.

The session will consist of quick rounds of questions and answers between the authors of the Asian Metropolitan Report and representatives from the Metropolis membership in the four Asian sub-regions.

Moderation
Lia Brum, Research & Policy Officer, Metropolis

Speakers
Authors of the Asian Metropolitan Report:
1. Dr. Bharat Dahiya, Director, Research Center for Sustainable Development and Innovation, School of Global Studies, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand, and Extraordinary Professor, School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University. Co-author of the Asian Metropolitan Report.
2. Dr. Mamta Dahiya, Professor - Research Track, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, SGT University, Gurugram, India. Co-author of the Asian Metropolitan Report. (TBC)
3. Dr. Do Young Oh, Research Assistant Professor, School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Expert in charge of sourcing the metropolitan indicators.
4. Octavi de la Varga, Metropolis Secretary General

Metropolis members from each Asian sub-region:
5. Zhan Meixu, Deputy Chief Engineer of Planning and Research Center of Guangzhou Urban Planning and Design Survey Research Institute (GZPI), Senior Engineer – representing the Metropolis membership from East and North-East Asia
6. Dr. Ikhsan, S.Psi., MM, Municipal Assistant on Economy and Development Affairs of the Surabaya City Government, representing the Metropolis membership from South-East Asia
7. Prahlad Ghimire, Deputy Director, Planning and Monitoring, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, representing the Metropolis membership from South and South-West Asia
8. M. Fuat Özharat, Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, representing the Metropolis membership from Western Asia

Preliminary agenda
1. Overview of the Asian Metropolitan Report
By Bharat Dahiya & Mamta Dahiya: 10 min

2. Methodology for sourcing data from metropolitan scales
By Do Young Oh: 5 min

3. 1st round of Q&A
10 min

4. Metropolis members feedback about their metropolitan indicators (10 min each)
4.1. Guangzhou
4.2. Surabaya
4.3. Kathmandu
4.4. Gaziantep

Each speaker will be granted a slot of 10 minutes, to respond two questions:
​· How important is it for your government to have access to data on the metropolitan scale to better plan and implement public policies and services? · Could you briefly elaborate on specific indicators where your metropolis is highlighted in the Asian Metropolitan Report? (individual briefings have been sent out to each member with options of specific indicators)

5. 2nd round of Q&A
10 min

6. Concluding remarks
By Octavi de la Varga: 5 min

Speaker:
Dr. Bharat DahiyaDirector, Research Center for Sustainable Development and Innovation, School of Global Studies, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand, and Extraordinary Professor, School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University. Co-author of the Asian Metropolitan Report Speaker:
Dr. Mamta DahiyaProfessor - Research Track, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, SGT University, Gurugram, India. Co-author of the Asian Metropolitan Report. Speaker:
Dr. Do Young OhResearch Assistant Professor, School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Expert in charge of sourcing the metropolitan indicators. Speaker:
Zhan Meixu Deputy Chief Engineer of Planning and Research Center of Guangzhou Urban Planning and Design Survey Research Institute (GZPI), Senior Engineer – representing the Metropolis membership from East and North-East Asia Speaker:
Dr. Ikhsan S.Psi., MM, Municipal Assistant on Economy and Development Affairs of the Surabaya City Government, representing the Metropolis membership from South-East Asia Speaker:
Prahlad Ghimire Deputy Director, Planning and Monitoring, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, representing the Metropolis membership from South and South-West Asia Speaker:
M. Fuat Özharat Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, representing the Metropolis membership from Western Asia Download PDF

Right now, COVID-19 is still raging across the globe, which poses a severe challenge to global urban governance. It is urgent for global leaders to have a joint discussion about promoting urban governance, urban resilience, sustainable development, and other issues in the post COVID-19 era. In 2020, the Fifth Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (“Guangzhou Award” in short) was held as scheduled. Out of the 273 projects submitted by 175 cities, 15 shortlisted cities distinguished themselves by offering innovative solutions to urban development.

Each cycle of the Guangzhou Award invites shortlisted cities to participate in the Seminars on Learning from Urban Innovation, where the cities go through a final review and respond to questions from the audience to compete for 5 awards. The Seminars on Learning from Urban Innovation welcome urban policy-makers, managers, researchers, and media from around the world, with the aim to facilitate experience sharing and mutual learning among different cities.

The fifteen shortlisted cities are categorized into four groups, that is, Green Cities, Inclusive Cities, Innovative Cities, and Resilient Cities. This session is for group four to make their cases.

Group four: Resilient Cities

The fight against COVID-19 has been a grave challenge for global cities since 2020. Virtually all cities around the world are faced with the daunting issue of maintaining basic services whilst safeguarding residents’ well-being amid a health crisis. The theme for the fourth session is “Resilient Cities”, where examples from Chongqing of China, Odisha of India, Union of Dannieh Municipalities of Lebanon, and Municipality of Antananarivo of Madagascar will illustrate how to build up urban resilience with an innovation-based approach to handle the COVID-19 crisis and get better prepared for the future.

Speakers:
Speaker:
Nicolas YouAdvisor for Guangzhou international Award for Urban Innovation Speaker:
Sara HoeflichDirector of decentralized cooperation and city to city learning, UCLG

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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How are strategies for large-scale urban projects aimed to build green, inclusive, prosperous, resilient and safe metropolitan communities being developed? How is citizen participation integrated in the design or implementation of these strategies? How is the multi-level governance of these projects organised, leading to long-term validation and decision-making processes?

The main objective of this webinar is to share the results of the pilot project "Revitalisation through Urban Projects" targeting revitalisation strategies and processes operated by cities, through the analysis of 2 main specific themes: urban life and urban design, on the one hand, and governance and participation processes, on the other.

On the basis of the final result guide of the pilot project "Revitalisation through Urban Projects", Metropolis and Région de Bruxelles-Capitale propose a webinar offering precise examples on the revitalisation process of cities and metropolitan areas.

Contents
● Urban development issues
● Decision-making and governance structure for urban projects
● Consultation process and public participation for urban development



Speaker:
Julien Lahaie Urban planner, Lyon Speaker:
Tony Van NuffelenArchitect, Urban.brussels Speaker:
Priscilla AnanianDirector of the Observatoire des milieux de vie urbains - Université du Québec à Montréal Download PDF

As the global Covid-19 pandemic surges on, those in urban governance face daunting challenges. Cities and metropolises around the globe should jointly build a closer community with a shared future. We must face the new challenges posed by the pandemic through mutual assistance, to reduce the effects of the pandemic, and achieve full economic and social recovery as soon as possible.

From November 8th to 13th, 2021, the City of Guangzhou, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the World Association of Major Metropolises (Metropolis) and the United Cites and Local Governments (UCLG) will be co-hosting the hybrid XIII Metropolis World Congress, Global Mayors’ Forum, and the 5th cycle of Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation. These events will help global cities improve their governance innovation, crisis response capacity, and promote cooperation and exchanges of experience among cities that will help us defeat the pandemic.

With the theme of Moving Forward in Partnership and Modernizing Global Urban Governance, these events will focus on a slogan that reflects the call of our times, Metropolises and cities in transformation: rethinking our future together. This year’s events will be attended by world-renowned city leaders, heads of major international organizations, representatives of top multinational companies, and experts in urban innovation. The events will include information on urban planning and development, provide novel solutions to urban governance, and explore the philosophy of future developments from the following aspects: public health, new infrastructure, poverty alleviation, climate change, how to build a resilient city, and urban renewal.

Part I. Opening Remarks
● Video Message from Chinese State leader
● Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat
● Governor of Guangdong Province
● Mr. Wen Guohui, President of Metropolis and Mayor of Guangzhou
● Ambassador Lin Songtian, President of CPAFCC
● Mr. Mohamed Boudra, President of UCLG and Mayor of Al Hoceima

Part II. Theme Forum: Moving Forward in Partnership and Modernizing Global Urban Governance

Speakers
1. Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director General of UNFAO
2. Mr. Li Yong, Director General of UNIDO
3. Professor Zhong Nanshan, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Recipient of Medal of the Republic, Professor at Guangzhou University of Medical Studies
4. Mr. Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin and Co-president of Metropolis
5. Mr.Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles
6. Mr. Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York
7. Mr. Sergey Sobyanin, Mayor of Moscow
8. Mr. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol
9. Ms. Claudia López Hernández, Superior Mayor of Bogotá
10. Ms. Soham El Wardini, Mayor of Dakar
11. Mr. Li Mingyuan, Mayor of Xi’an and Co-president of UCLG

* Guest list subject to final confirmation of attendance

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Civilisation thrives with sound ecology and declines when it deteriorates. Cities around the world must work together to build global ecological civilisation, be devoted to global environmental governance, work out solutions for global environmental protection and sustainable development, and guide international cooperation to combat climate change. China will host the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2021 to explore new strategies for the governance of global biodiversity with all participants. Eco-city is a key to global urbanisation and plays an important role in promoting ecological civilisation and biodiversity. This sub-forum will share and exchange practical experience with experts and scholars from around the world, and jointly explore new theories, methods, and governance models related to urban sustainable development and transformation, such as biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation.

Agenda and speakers
Keynote Speeches (10 minutes each)
(1) Mr. José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid (to be confirmed by Metropolis) (online)
(2) Ms. Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal (online)
(3) Mayor(s) of sister city of Guangzhou (online)
(4) Leader from Guangzhou (to introduce Haizhu National Wetland Park, pilot project of World Bank’s Sustainable Urban Cooling Project)

Panel discussion
(1) Mr. Zhu Shu, Secretary General of ICLEI East Asia
(2) Ms. Kirstin Miller, Executive Director of Ecocity Builders (online)
(3) Dr. Philipp Rode, Executive Director of LSE Cities, the London School of Economics and Political Science
(4) Head of World Bank’s Sustainable Urban Cooling Project
(5) Others to be confirmed

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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Civilization thrives with sound ecology and declines when it deteriorates. Cities around the world must work together to build global ecological civilization, be devoted to global environmental governance, work out solutions for global environmental protection and sustainable development, and guide international cooperation to combat climate change. China will host the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2021 to explore new strategies for the governance of global biodiversity with all participants. Eco-city is a key to global urbanization and plays an important role in promoting ecological civilization and biodiversity. This sub-forum will share and exchange practical experience with experts and scholars from around the world, and jointly explore new theories, methods, and governance models related to urban sustainable development and transformation, such as biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation.

Cities rely on three drivers, i.e. reform, technology, and culture, to enhance its capacity for sustainable development. It has become a global consensus to promote the reform of urban governance systems and build governance capacity through technological innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the important role of technologies and related infrastructures in effectively fighting the virus in cities, and, at the same time, exposed the digital divide caused by unbalanced technological development in cities around the world. This sub-forum, with focus on the critical role of new technologies and new infrastructures in urban governance in the post-COVID-19 era, will discuss challenges, and share experiences and perspectives, on a broad basis.

Agenda and speakers
Keynote Speeches (10 minutes each)
(1) Mr. Oh Se-Hoon, Mayor of Seoul; Regional Vice President of Metropolis (online)
(2) Ms. Claudia Sheinbaum, Mayor of Mexico City (online)
(3) Chief Executive(s) of China Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City

Panel discussion
(1) Mr. Anthony G. O. Yeh, Academician, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Academician, Academy of Social Sciences, UK; Professor, University of Hong Kong
(2) Mr. Yu Gang, Secretary General of China Society for Urban Studies
(3) Mr. Lu Jun, Deputy Dean of Urban Governance Institute, Peking University
(4) Ms. Enrique R. Silva, Director of International Initiatives, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (online)
(5) Mr. Shi Guangming, Vice President of Xidian University, Director of Guangzhou Institute of Technology of Xidian University
(6) Professor Liu Hong, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (online)
(7) Representative(s) of urban development expert(s) from Singapore (online)
(8) Others to be confirmed

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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Health is the primary right of human beings, and is closely related to sustainable urban development. A “Healthy City” is a health-oriented community of development that aims at the combination of healthy citizens, environments and cities in terms of urban planning, construction, management and services. At the core of sustainable urban development lies the issue of building safe, resilient and healthy cities. However, cities are faced by challenges posed by urban space development, mobility of urban population, risks of major emergencies, and others. Therefore, it has become a universal issue among global cities to effectively address said challenges and turn them into opportunities. With this issue in focus, this sub-forum will invite experts in urban management, local governance and other related fields to fully discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Healthy Cities, and elaborate on approaches to build such cities into more resilient and efficient metropolises.

Agenda and speakers
Keynote Speeches (10 minutes each)
(1) Ms. Claudia López Hernández, Superior Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia (online)
(2) Dr. Tang Xiaoping, Secretary of CPC Guangzhou Medical University Committee
(3) Others to be confirmed

Panel discussion
(1) Dr. Ali Cheshmehzangi, head of Department of Architecture and Built Environment, head of Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies, University of Nottingham Ningbo China
(2) Mr. Jose Siri, Senior Science Lead of Our Planet Our Health Programme, Wellcome Trust (online)
(3) Mr. Li Wenmei, President of Wondfo Group
(4) Others to be confirmed

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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In October 2016, the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (UN Habitat III) included “resilient cities” as an innovative part in the New Urban Agenda. Global cities are facing similar problems and challenges in respect of immigrants, cultural diversity, and caring for vulnerable groups, including women, elders, children, among others. Cities in China and beyond, including Guangzhou, have been actively exploring innovation in metropolis governance. The sub-forum will invite global cities and experts in related fields to discuss and share experience and practices of building diverse, inclusive and resilient metropolises.

Agenda and speakers
Keynote Speeches (10 minutes each)
(1) Ms Zhang Yajie, Vice President of Guangzhou People’s Political Consultative Conference; Co-President of UCLG ASPAC and Chair of Standing Committee of Women in Local Governments
(2) Mr. David Makhura, Premier of Gauteng Province, South Africa; Metropolis Co-president (online)
(3) Ms. Laura Pérez, City Councillor of Barcelona; President of Metropolis Women (online)
(4) Ms. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC (online)

Panel discussion
(1) Mr. Bao Yajun, Secretary General of Institute of Urban Governance, Peking University
(2) Ms. Sylvia Croese, Senior Researcher, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Research Associate with the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town
(3) Director of The Guangzhou Urban Governance Rankings
(4) Mr. Wang Dong, Program Director for Sustainable Development Goals Localization with UNDP China
(5) Dr. Huang Dingxi, Secretary General of Guangzhou Urban Planning Association
(6) Mr. Zeng Lingfa, Dean of School of Politics and Administration of South China Normal University
(7) Others to be confirmed

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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The eradication of poverty in all forms and dimensions is the greatest challenge facing humanity. The United Nations has listed poverty eradication as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, calling for an end to extreme poverty across the world by 2023. On July 1, 2021, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared that China has built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, solved the historical problem of absolute poverty, and made significant contributions to global poverty reduction. Cities in China have played an important role in poverty alleviation, especially through collaboration across regions. This sub-forum, with focus on the role of cities in poverty alleviation, will share the practices, experiences, and perspectives of Chinese and foreign cities in poverty eradication.

Agenda and speakers
Keynote Speeches (10 minutes each)
(1) Ms. Carolina Cosse, Mayor of Montevideo, Uruguay; Metropolis Co-president (online)
(2) Mr. Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha, President of UCLG ASPAC, Mayor of Dhulikhel, Nepal (online)
(3) Mr. Robert Beugre Mambe, Governor of the Autonomous District of Abidjan, Metropolis Vice President (online)
(4) Mayor of Lvliang, Shanxi Province
(5) Mayor of Qiannan Prefecture, Guizhou Province

Panel discussion
(1) Dr. Liu Junwen, Director General of International Poverty Reduction Center in China
(2) Dr. Sheila Ochugboju, Regional Coordination Specialist (Consultant), UNDP; Head Researcher, UN-Habitat Global State of Urban Youth Report (GSUYR 2015/2016)
(3) Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network; Director of Centre for Sustainable Development, Columbia University
(4) Others to be confirmed

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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As stated in the comprehensive 14th Five-year Plan, formed in the fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), we should carry out a thorough sustainable development strategy, build a better coordination mechanism and system of ecological civilisation, and promote the green shift of economic and social development in all aspects, to achieve a modernisation progress featuring the harmonious coexistence of human beings and nature. In his statement at the General Debate of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, General Secretary Xi Jinping also noted that, countries should foster a new concept for innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, seize the historic opportunities presented by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, promote the “green recovery” of world economy in the post-Covid-19 era, and forge a strong synergy for sustainable development. The United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and urban governance are closely interlinked. In 2020, against the backdrop of the pandemic, Guangzhou and global cities such as New York and Milan, in response to the Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR), submitted to the UN their respective Voluntary Local Reviews on local implementation of the SDGs. This sub-forum, with focus on relevant urban practices and experience in implementing SDGs, will invite global cities and experts in related fields for discussion.

Agenda and speakers
Keynote Speeches (10 minutes each)
(1) Leader(s) from Chengdu, Sichuan (Representing Park City Initiative)
(2) Ms. Ada Colau, President of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona; Metropolis Co-president (online)
(3) Mr. Alireza Zakani, Mayor of Tehran; Metropolis Regional Vice President (online)
(4) Mr. Zhang Yueguo, Secretary of CPC Party Leadership Group, President of Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences

Panel discussion
(1) Dr. Huang Dingxi, Secretary General of Guangzhou Urban Planning Association
(2) Mr. Ajay Suri, Former Regional Manager - Asia of Cities Alliances
(3) Dr. Barbara Samuels, Executive Director of the Global Clearinghouse for Development Finance
(4) 3-4 Experts from research institutes in Guangzhou and major think-tanks in China
(5) Others to be confirmed

For more details about the session, please contact info@gmfguangzhou.com

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With this event we want to bring to close the first edition of the Metropolis Through Children’s Eyes. This year it has brought together the voices of more than 1200 children from 5 up to 14 years all sharing their ideas on how they imagine the city where they want to live. They have done those drawings in a moment that our cities and metropolitan spaces are being confronted to historical challenges, contradictions and vulnerabilities generated by the global pandemic.

However, those drawings show clearly that although the uncertain times we’re all living in, they are clearly optimistic and share a common consensus: the need for metropolitan spaces designed for enhancing the quality of life of the citizens and cities where they and their families can enjoy humanized and greener public spaces.

It’s also possible to understand from those drawings, the urgent need to innovate and rethink how we are designing our cities in order that we can incorporate new voices and insights into our policies in order to have inclusive, healthier and happier urban environments.

Speakers
• Mr. Octavi de la Varga Mas, Secretary General of Metropolis
• Ms. Astrid Ruiz, Director and Co-founder of Congrés-Indians School of Barcelona

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The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (the Guangzhou Award) is co-sponsored by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis) and the City of Guangzhou. It aims to recognize innovation in improving social, economic and environmental sustainability in cities and regions and, in so doing, to advance the prosperity and quality of life of their citizens.

The Guangzhou Award, presented biennially, is open to all cities and local governments with successful initiatives in urban innovation. The initiative that is entered for the Guangzhou Award should be an ongoing or recently completed (within the past two years) project, measure or policy that produces practical effect or substantial influence, boasting originality, exemplariness and transferability.

The assessment of each cycle’s Guangzhou Award is conducted by international experts independently. The Technical Committee selects up to 15 shortlisted cities and no more than 30 deserving cities from approved applications. From the shortlist, the Jury makes a final selection of up to five award winning cities.

Since 2012, four cycles of the Guangzhou Award have been held, each of which receives initiatives from more than 150 cities of over 50 countries and regions. The 5th Guangzhou Award has received 273 project applications from 175 cities in 60 countries.

The award ceremony of the 5th Guangzhou Award, to take place in conjunction with the closing ceremony of the 13th Metropolis World Congress, will be the last major event of the 2021 Global Mayors’ Forum Event Series. During the award ceremony, five Winning Cities, one Online Popular City, and ten winners of the Medal of Honor of the 5th Guangzhou Award will be announced and awarded in grand fashion. At the end of the ceremony, a closing speech will be delivered by Wen Guohui, President of Metropolis and Mayor of Guangzhou, which marks the conclusion of the 13th Metropolis World Congress.

Live performances featuring Chinese and foreign folk musical instruments, Cantonese opera, children's chorus, Ballet on Shoulder, modern song and dance among others, will be given throughout the ceremony. With profound Chinese and traditional Cantonese characteristics and international cultural styles, these performances aim at conveying positive messages for global cities to strengthen solidarity, enhance partnerships, and collaboratively promote the modernization of global urban governance. The event will be broadcast live online through the Forum’s conference platform.

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