OVERVIEW The 31st of October is celebrated as World Cities Day. The aim is to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries and cities in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development. World Cities Day contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals and it is recognized by the New Urban Agenda as a priority platform for partners. BUILDING SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT CITIES The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life. Each year a different sub-theme is selected to either promote successes of urbanization or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization. Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities, the theme for World Cities Day 2018, is a call to action for all of us to rethink how cities may become better places to protect and enhance people’s lives, leaving no one behind. The global observance of this year’s World Cities Day is being held in Liverpool, United Kingdom. With over half of the population living in urban areas and the numbers increasing daily, cities are facing unprecedented demographic, environmental, economic, social and spatial challenges. This World Cities Day is engaging with local, regional and national governments, partners, communities of practice and residents to raise awareness about the importance of resilient cities and inspiring action for building resilience for more sustainable cities.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, FINANCE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN-RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF P.R. CHINA
DIRECTOR-GENERAL ZHANG XINGYE
THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN-RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF P.R. CHINA
VICE MINISTER NI HONG
THE PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT OF JIANGSU PROVINCE
VICE GOVERNOR FEI GAOYUN
SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF un-HABITAT
MS. CHRISTINE MUSISI
DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN POLICY, CLIMATE POLICY,
FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, NATURE CONSERVATION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY OF GERMANY
DR. KARSTEN SACH
SECRETARY OF CPC XUZHOU MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE
MR. ZHOU TIEGEN