The Guangzhou UCLG 2020 World Council was held from November 11 to 13 via video conference. The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality and the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) co-hosted this meeting. More than 300 representatives from 189 cities, local governments and international organizations in 48 countries participated in this conference.

Mr. António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, and Mr. Liu Qibao, Vice-President of the CPPCC National Committee sent their video messages to this Council, respectively. In the opening ceremony, addresses were made by Dr. Mohamed Boudra, President of UCLG, Mr. Lin Songtian, President of CPAFFC, and Mr. Wen Guohui, Mayor of Guangzhou. Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Mr. Antonio Vitorino, Director General of the International Organization on Migration (IOM) were invited to the opening policy debate. As the member of UCLG World Council and Executive Bureau, Fuzhou was invited to the corresponding sessions on Nov. 12 and 13.

On behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people, Mr. Liu Qibao extended congratulations to the convening of this meeting. He said that China stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with countries across the world, their cities and local governments in particular, to jointly respond to impacts and challenges the epidemic has imposed on the globe. We should open wider to the outside together and deepen mutually beneficial collaborations in such areas as smart city, digital economy, agriculture, poverty alleviation, education, women and children and climate change, so as to embrace an early recurrence of world economic prosperity and common development, he stressed.

In his remark, Mr. António Guterres thanked UCLG for its commitment to implementing UN SDGs. The United Nations also relies on the endeavors of UCLG to create a more resilient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable world. He said local governments play a crucial role in facilitating globalization and urbanization, as well as protecting the environment, and we thus need to join hands to fulfill targets and become stronger.

Mr. Lin Songtian said that CPAFFC is willing to make better communication, consultation, and cooperation with UCLG and municipal partners worldwide. CPAFFC will contribute to improving governance system, enhancing governance capacity, achieving an early victory against the epidemic, and promoting economic recovery for cities and local governments around the world, in a bid to jointly build a community with shared future for mankind.

“No one should be left behind, and no place should be left behind either” said Dr. Mohamed Boudra. The world needs international cooperation more than ever before, and this meeting, which allows members and local government leaders meet online, demonstrates cities’ commitment to governance optimization and sustainable development. Facing crisis, the world needs to figure out common resolution, measures and approaches instead of fighting on their own. He stressed that by doing so, we can explore and create cities that are future-oriented and more resilient.