Global mayors eye green development cooperation

The Mayors' Forum on Green Development of the Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2021 was held in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on July 12.

Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General of United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), gave a video keynote speech, and Yu Bin, a member of the Party Leadership Group of the Development Research Center of the State Council, gave an on-site speech at the forum, which was themed around strengthening urban green development cooperation and promoting the joint construction of a green Belt and Road.

Bernadia recognized Guiyang's success in the construction of an ecological civilization. She said that UCLG ASPAC will commit to promoting exchange between cities in improving climate resilience and inclusiveness, and new concepts and models for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Yu said that faced with unprecedented difficulties, the international community should help each other, strive to achieve green transformation and sustainable development, jointly build a community for humans and nature, share their experiences in the development of ecofriendly cities, and establish a closer partnership to contribute to global green development.

Mayors and top officials from the Chinese cities of Guiyang, Hohhot, Jinan, and Changchun, the United States' cities of Cupertino and Fort Worth, Solingen in Germany, Tripolis in Greece, Istanbul in Turkey, Burnaby in Canada, Semarang in Indonesia, and Turku in Finland delivered speeches and dialogues at the forum.

Chen Yan, mayor of Guiyang, said that in recent years, Guiyang and Guian New Area have strengthened awareness of low-carbon development, promoted greening, energy conservation, emissions reduction, green development, and prevention of hidden risks, resulting in a win-win situation for economic development and environmental conservation.

He added that Guiyang and Guian New Area will further promote ecofriendly development, build a green and low-carbon economic system, advance cooperation in urban green development, and accelerate efforts to peak carbon emissions and reach carbon neutrality.

Some attendees at the forum also gave speeches and carried out discussions on promoting innovation in ecological civilization theories and practices, and establishing a sound production system and circulation system for green and low-carbon recycling development.

The event also released the planning and construction results of the Guiyang (Economic & Technology Development) Hydrogen Energy Industry Cluster and issued an initiative to establish the Belt and Road Cities Green Development Cooperation Alliance. Guiyang and Tripolis in Greece signed a memorandum on friendship and cooperation.