From 22 to 25 June 2026, the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) convened its 8th World Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Tangier, Morocco. During the Congress, elections were held for UCLG's governing bodies. Fuzhou was successfully re-elected to both the Executive Bureau and the World Council for the 2026–2029 term, further consolidating the city's role in the organization's decision-making process and strengthening its international influence. 

More than 3,000 participants attended the Congress, including local and regional government leaders, representatives of international organizations, academics, and business leaders from around the world. Among those delivering keynote remarks were UCLG President Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea; Executive President Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, the Netherlands; and Secretary General Emilia Saiz. Participants also exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including how local and regional governments can deliver a new generation of innovative, inclusive, and responsive public services, building broader international consensus on the future of local governance. 

During meetings of the Executive Bureau, the World Council, and the General Assembly, Fuzhou joined fellow members in deliberating the organization's key priorities. Delegates reviewed reports from the Executive Bureau meeting in Mexico City and the World Council meeting in Xi'an, received updates on the implementation of the 2026 Work Programme and the proposed 2027 Work Plan, and approved matters relating to the Presidency's report, financial management, membership affairs, and other statutory business. The Congress also elected a new UCLG leadership, including the President, Co-Presidents, Treasurer, President of the Standing Committee on Gender Equality, and other members of the Presidency. 

Since joining UCLG in 2012, Fuzhou has been consecutively elected to the Executive Bureau and Council of both UCLG Asia-Pacific (ASPAC) and the global UCLG organization. In 2017, Fuzhou, together with the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, established the 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee under the framework of UCLG ASPAC. The Committee has since grown to include 80 members from 29 countries. Over the years, Fuzhou has remained an active and committed member of UCLG, conscientiously fulfilling its membership responsibilities while actively exercising its rights within the organization. Leveraging this important international platform, the city has continued to expand multilateral cooperation and partnerships with cities around the world, opening new avenues for international engagement and making meaningful contributions—through both the Fuzhou approach and Fuzhou's experience—to the advancement of sustainable urban development and global local governance. 

Source:21CMCC