Anaclaudia Rosbach, Executive Director of UN Human Settlements Program, delivered a speech at the event on October 31st, Alexandria, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) 

Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN Human Settlements Program, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Chinese Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong and other guests attended the event and delivered speeches. 

Celebrated annually on Oct. 31, it is the first international day of the United Nations on the theme of the city, and also the first promoted by the Chinese government at the United Nations. This year, the World Cities Day's event was held on the theme of "Youth Leading Climate and Local Action for Cities." 

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly delivered a speech at the event on October 31st, Alexandria, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) 

Chinese Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong said that World Cities Day has always focused on promoting sustainable development of global cities, and is committed to creating a development pattern that is inclusive, balanced, coordinated and inclusive, featuring win-win cooperation and common prosperity. It has become an important platform for cities to share experiences, seek common development and create a future together, he said, adding that World Cities Day has greatly promoted the joint efforts of countries to build better cities in the fruitful first decade since its inception. "We believe that in the second decade, World Cities Day will play a greater role in promoting the sustainable prosperity and development of cities around the world," the Chinese minister said. 

Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN Human Settlements Program, depicted the day as an important platform for cities that are really engaged in and working towards "sustainable and equitable transformation." 

A group photo of representatives of cities which won the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) on October 31st, Alexandria, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) 

Addressing the opening ceremony, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said, "This event gives us the opportunity to explore new solutions to the environmental challenges facing cities, especially those under increasing pressure from climate change, such as our coastal cities." 

The five cities winning the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) were Morocco's Agadir, India's Thiruvananthapuram, Qatar's Doha, Mexico's Iztapalapa, and Australia's Melbourne. Egypt’s Alexandria won the Special Contribution Award. 

At the initiative of China, the 68th UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2013 to set October 31st of each year as World Cities Day from 2014. 

Source: XINHUA