Guangzhou to host 13th Metropolis World Congress

Guangzhou, Guangdong province, has been selected as the host city for the 13th Metropolis World Congress in 2020. The announcement was made at a plenary session of the 12th Metropolis World Congress in Montreal, Canada, on June 22.

"Guangzhou will do its utmost to hold the 13th Metropolis World Congress, and welcome all cities across the globe," said Liu Baochun, secretary of the Metropolis Asia-Pacific Regional Office and director of the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, in his speech.

Guangzhou, Guangdong province, is selected as the host city for the 13th Metropolis World Congress in 2020 on June 22 in Montreal, Canada. [Photo/cri.cn]

The Metropolis World Congress is held triennially and hailed as an important meeting of global decision-makers to respond to the urban challenges.

Having a long relationship with Metropolis, Guangzhou joined the association in 1993 and became its co-president city and secretariat of the Asia and Pacific region in 2014.

"Guangzhou will avail the 13th Metropolis World Congress to bring exposure to the Belt and Road Initiative, share urban management experiences and step up construction efforts for an international exchange hub," Liu added.

The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou will be developed into an international hub for conferences and meetings, as it is selected to host a series of prestigious events, including the 31st IAPH World Ports Conference (2019) and the Global Fortune Forum in December this year, local media reported.

The World Association of Major Metropolises (Metropolis), founded in 1985, is the largest association to gather the governments of major cities all over the world. Currently, it has 137 member cities and metropolitans with a population of over 1 million.

A Guangzhou delegate details the city's urban management experiences and practices on June 20 during the 12th Metropolis World Congress in Montreal, Canada. [Photo/dayoo.com]

Liu Baochun, director of the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, makes a speech in Montreal, Canada, on June 22. [Photo/cri.cn]