On 7 December 2018, the Global Mayors’ Forum and the 4th Edition of Guangzhou Award opened in Guangzhou. More than 700 representatives from 105 cities and local governments in 39 countries gathered to share experiences in urban governance and explore sustainable urban development strategies. Representative of ASEAN China- Centre (ACC) attended relevant activities upon invitation.
He Wei, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ma Xingrui, Governor of Guangdong Province, Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Rudi Vervoort, Representative of World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis) and Minister President of Brussels Capital Region addressed the opening ceremony. The UN Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif sent a video message to the conference.
At the themed forum of the conference, Dato’ Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia held discussions on the topic of “Open and Inclusive Innovations in Urban Governance”together with other government officials and experts on urban governance.
In addition, in response to current major world concerns, the conference also set up seven parallel sessions. The topics include “Blockchain: Tools for Governing Metropolitan and Urban Management”, “Urban Development in the Greater Bay Area of China”, “the Belt & Road Initiative and Urban Construction”, “Cultural Inheritance and Innovation of Future City”, “Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities Rectors’ Conference”, “Urban Mobility and Transportation” and “Urban Green Development”.
Surabaya City of Indonesia won the Online Popular City Award under the 4th Guangzhou Award.