China-ASEAN Mayors Forum

Mr. Li Chu, Mayor of Guilin,

Mayors of ASEAN Countries,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank the Guilin Municipal People’s Government, the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the Mayors’ Association of China for the invitation to speak at the China-ASEAN Mayors’ Forum.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, “Cities are engines of economic growth and innovation that hold the key to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

Urbanization has become a defining characteristic of our times, here in China, in ASEAN countries and around the world, with more and more people moving to cities. At present, just over 56% of the world’s population lives in cities, but this is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. These demographic shifts will cause existing cities to expand and new cities to form. These changes offer tremendous opportunities for economic development, innovation, and cultural exchange. At the same time, this rapid urbanization can present significant challenges, including increased resource demands, environmental degradation, and social responsibility. 

For this reason, sound urban planning is a prerequisite for sustainable urbanization and “Smart Cities” can leverage digital technologies to improve resource use and reduce emissions.

First, what do we mean when we talk about sustainable urbanization? Sustainable urbanization means finding a balance between economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. It involves building resilient, inclusive, equitable and environmentally friendly cities that provide quality education, healthcare, housing, and public services for all urban inhabitants. It also promotes sustainable, inclusive, and accessible transport systems, green infrastructure, renewable energy sources, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. It fosters vibrant, livable, and inclusive communities where people can thrive.

While being a “smart city” is not a prerequisite for achieving sustainable urbanization, adopting the characteristics of a “smart city” can help to facilitate more sustainable, efficient and inclusive urban environments. When we talk about a “smart city”, we mean cities that have a wide range of electronic and digital technology applications, that use ICT to transform life and working environments, that embed ICT in government systems and that bring ICT and people together to enhance innovation and knowledge. 

This means that a “smart city” must not only possess ICT technology but must use this technology in a way that positively impacts local communities. This can include, for example, demand-driven traffic control signals, whose timing changes based on the volume of traffic to ease traffic flows and make roads safer, smart energy grids to allow greater penetration of variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, bicycle-sharing systems, smart cards that enable users to log into a range of government-provided services without setting up multiple accounts and digital libraries, among others.

To accelerate a transition to sustainable urbanization and smart cities, we must leverage the potential of South-South cooperation. Collaboration and experience sharing between developing countries, and more specifically between cities in ASEAN countries and China, can help to catalyze this transition. China has remarkable experience in developing and piloting “smart city” initiatives. Whether it is the City Brain System in Hangzhou, the rapid growth of Shenzhen with high levels of ICT integrated into government systems, or the development of an eco-city in Tianjin, there is immense opportunity for China to share and promote these practices in other countries, providing valuable guidance and lessons learned in the development of “smart cities.”

Beyond traditional bilateral cooperation, we must also harness multi-stakeholder partnerships that connect governments with civil society, academia, the private sector, and international organizations to address these multifaceted challenges. We must all work together to ensure the equitable sharing of benefits of sustainable urbanization both between and within nations, guaranteeing that no one is left behind.

China’s rapid urbanization in recent decades and its commitment to a green and low-carbon model provide many lessons learned and opportunities for other countries. China is a global leader in green technology production, including solar and wind power, electric vehicles, and lithium batteries, among other areas and has announced important commitments for carbon peaking and neutrality, recognizing the importance of a green and low-carbon economy and society. At the same time, China faces numerous challenges in making these ambitions a reality. As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and a major importer of natural resources, China must take further steps towards reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, transitioning to a less resource-intensive economic model to avoid the worse impacts of climate change and developing more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Reaching the goal of sustainable urbanization and the development of “smart cities” requires an all-of-society approach, including investment from and partnerships with the private sector. 

The UN in China stands ready to provide expertise and technical assistance to support the policy and structural changes needed for China to achieve its climate, environmental and green-cities objectives. At the same time, through its support of South-South Cooperation activities, we also stand ready to support other countries in these objectives, by connecting them with businesses and experts in China and creating avenues for experience sharing between countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the past decade, the UN in China has collaborated closely with Chinese partners on programmes aimed at improving urban public spaces, developing green and low-carbon cities, fostering urban renewal, supporting sustainable urban planning and design, and promoting health and child-friendly cities, all under the umbrella of our support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We need to recognize the complexity of urban dynamics and highlight the importance “smart cities” and sustainable urbanization can play in catalyzing our progress towards achieving the SDGs. A new narrative of sustainable urban development that leverages the opportunities for efficiency gains via the use of ICT, AI and other technologies must become central to global and local policymaking if we hope to adequately respond to the pressing social and environmental challenges we face.

To that end, and to promote the sharing of best practices of cities that are taking actions to promote sustainable development and smart cities, I invite all of you to consider preparing and submitting a “Voluntary Local Review” to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. These reports allow local authorities to report their plans and progress on implementing the 2030 Agenda and provide examples of how cities have been localizing the SDGs to their realities.

In conclusion, the challenges and opportunities presented by urbanization require collective action and renewed commitment. Together, we can build cities that are vibrant, prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Let us work hand in hand to create a future where sustainable urbanization becomes a driving force for positive change, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Thank you.