Local governments allied to United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) can now seek help from a worldwide network of experts and professionals within 24 hours of a disaster.

The network, just one of the fruits of this week's World Mayors' Forum in Beijing, is the first step taken by UCLG to improve co-ordination and co-operation between cities and local governments around the world.

Bertrand Delanoe, mayor of Paris and president of UCLG, said at the forum yesterday that UCLG had created a database which includes a list of phone numbers of the world's top disaster management experts.

"We will dedicate ourselves to sharing our experiences and strength to settle the problems that haunt world cities," Delanoe said.

China's Vice-President Zeng Qinghong, who attended the opening ceremony yesterday, said the Chinese Government attaches great importance to the essential role of city and local governments in national development.

"We will pursue win-win results and common prosperity in our economic and technological exchanges and co-operation with all countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit," Zeng said.

Zeng said economic ties between countries are becoming increasingly close and that to strengthen economic and technological co-operation and realize common development have become the requirements of the times.

"China's development is closely related to the rest of the world and the world's prosperity cannot be achieved without China," Zeng said, adding that China's sustainable development has provided important opportunities for others.

Delanoe said cities around the world have abundant experience of handling crises but lack mutual co-ordination and co-operation.

"I believe that we can make fewer mistakes if we have more dialogue," Delanoe said, adding that he hoped the UCLG will be a useful supplement to efforts made by central governments within the framework of the United Nations.

More than 300 mayors, vice-mayors and local leaders from 42 countries and regions have gathered in Beijing to attend the forum.

Many mayors have brought posters and other material to help promote their cities. Hu Chih-Chiang, mayor of Taichung, Taiwan, is probably the most successful promoter at the forum.

With more than 10 boxes's of pineapple cakes and suncakes, Hu began his introduction by inviting reporters to taste the popular Taiwan sweets.

"The most important thing I want to do is promote Taichung and its local products," the mayor said yesterday. "My visit has been fruitful, it is a good way to exchange with my mainland compatriots."

The mayor, who is visiting Beijing for the first time, said Taichung can learn from Beijing in city construction, and called for more exchanges between local governments.

Zhang Guangning, mayor of Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, said his city, which has enjoyed economic growth of 15 per cent for the past 15 years, had fully integrated the United Nations Millennium Development Goals into its policy-making.

"From our experience, a local government should make environmental protection and sustainable development a top priority when it is dedicated to accelerating economic development," Zhang said.

Editor: Yan