The Global Mayors' Forum (GMF) and the 2018 Guangzhou International Urban Innovation Conference are being held in Guangzhou from Dec 6th to 8th, gathering the 15 cities, shortlisted for the 2018 Guangzhou Award, for an intensive sharing session on innovation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and New Urban Agenda.

The 15 shortlisted cities include Santa Fe from Argentina, Sydney from Australia, El Salvador from Brazil, Repentigny from Canada, Wuhan and Yiwu from China, Santa Ana from Costa Rica, Surabaya from Indonesia, Milan from Italy, Guadalajara from Mexico, Utrecht from Holland, Kazan from Russia, Durban from South Africa and New York from the United States.

Highlighting Global Openness & Inclusive Innovation, they presented their initiatives in four fields: Accessible Cities, Cooperative Cities, Inclusive Cities and Resilient Cities. Each field will be moderated by a Technical Committee member or a representative from the international organization.

“In this new round of scientific and technological revolution, we share common opportunities and face the same challenges. Innovation plays an important role in promoting the sustainable development of global cities. These outstanding shortlisted cases can let us learn from each other,” Chen Zhiying, executive vice governor of Guangzhou, remarked in his welcoming speech on December 6th.

For instance, during the seminar, one of the shortlisted cities Repentigny detailed its youth scheme developing opportunities for creation and skills development, fostering the integration and participation of young citizens in community life under the theme ‘A City for All’.

For instance, a project named ‘Crealab’ is providing a new living and user-friendly environment in the city, giving access to a multimedia lab focusing on individual and collective achievements. “It has had a tremendous impact, as a large proportion of the youth in the community, a majority of which are girls, regularly visit the lab,” said a representative from Repentigny.

In the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (GMA), Mexico’s second largest, the area’s metropolitan planning and development management is coordinated by an institute, the first of its nature in the history of the country.

The institute aims to bring citizens to the core of the decision-making process in the metropolitan area; so called ‘Citizen-Led Metropolitan Coordination’. Spaces were created for those citizens to exchange ideas, concerns and desires. This participatory approach to planning has allowed the recomposition of the metropolitan area on different scales.

The Guangzhou Award is co-sponsored by UCLG, Metropolis and the City of Guangzhou. It is open to all cities and local governments with successful initiatives in urban innovation and aims to honor global cities and governments in the field of urban innovation governance.

"The most important point driving the Guangzhou Award is that the winners can inspire other cities and can their learning and understanding can be shared and applied across various situations," said Mr. Nicholas You, Director of International Programs and Cooperation at Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation.

Over the past three sessions, more than 150 cities from more than 50 countries and regions have signed up to be considered for the award, and more than 700 projects have been evaluated.

The 4th Guangzhou International Urban Innovation Awards will be held on Dec 7th Five award-winning cities and one most popular city will be selected and announced from among the 15 shortlisted cities..

Further information on the GMF

The GMF is a three-day international conference held annually by the GMF Council and is based around the field of urban development. The forum aims to establish a platform for multilateral exchange and cooperation between governments and to promote global urban governance and sustainable development.

The forum is divided into several sessions with different focuses, including blockchain technology in city management, urban development of the Greater Bay Area, urban green development, and more.

Reported by Will

Edited by Simon