China’s Practices for Global Challenges – UN-Habitat China Office Unveils Key Achievements at the 13th World Urban Forum

During the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), the UN-Habitat China Office hosted a networking event themed “Buildings for the Future - Advancing the Climate-Housing Nexus through Digital Innovation”. The event presented annual research findings and on-the-ground case studies, bringing together experts from urban governments, academic institutions and international organizations across countries for in-depth exchanges.

Under the theme of "Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities", the WUF13 addresses core issues including global housing shortages, informal settlement governance, climate adaptation and urban resilience. 2026 marks the midpoint of the UN’s New Urban Agenda, as global urban transformation increasingly intersects with climate-related challenges, sustainable development is confronted with new and urgent pressures. Against this backdrop, drawing on China’s practical experience in artificial intelligence (AI), smart construction, green buildings, and urban regeneration, the UN-Habitat China Office has built a cross-regional dialogue platform to facilitate in-depth international cooperation on housing, climate action and digital innovation.

Launch of the Flagship Report, AI-Empowered Urban Governance Research Outcomes Enters Global Policy Discourse

A key highlight of the event was the official launch of Future Cities Advisory Outlook 2025: AI and Cities, published in all six official UN languages by the UN-Habitat China Future Cities Council (CFCC). Compiled under the leadership of Academician WANG Jian of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the report systematically maps the applications of artificial intelligence in urban planning, infrastructure development, energy management, and public services, while outlining a forward-looking roadmap for AI-enabled sustainable urban development.

Released in six official UN languages, the report marks the formal integration of this China-derived research framework into the global policy dialogue system. By translating local practices into shareable international experiences, China’s insights and experience in AI-driven urban governance are evolving into global public goods with universal reference value.

Mid-Term Outcomes of 2026 Annual Report Unveiled: “Global Initiative for Future Buildings” Gains Momentum

Professor LI Xiangning, Vice President of Tongji University and principle author of the 2026 annual report of CFCC, presented the mid-term outcomes of Future Cities Advisory Outlook 2026: Buildings for the Future and delivered a keynote speech on the development trends, technological pathways and core features of future buildings.

The report clearly identifies three major development directions for future buildings: green and low-carbon, digital and intelligent, and inclusive and shared. It calls for the launch of a “Global Initiative for Future Buildings” to foster international consensus and support the low-carbon transformation of the global construction industry. The initiative signifies that China’s practical exploration and cutting-edge thinking in sustainable construction are becoming a vital driving force for the development of global building codes and standards.

Sharing Local Practices: China’s Experience Contributing to Global South Solutions

In addition to research outputs, the UN-Habitat China Office released three case studies at WUF13, showcasing integrated approaches that link China’s domestic experience with international cooperation priorities in rural revitalization, resettlement communities, and informal settlement upgrading.

• Integrated Rural Revitalization: Jingxia Village, Guangzhou
  This case systematically documents innovative approaches to urban–rural integration in Jingxia Village, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, offering a replicable model for narrowing the urban–rural development gap.
• People-Centered Urban Transition: Pingxi Resettlement Community, Guangzhou
  Focusing on communities developed in connection with the Guangzhou airport expansion project, this case highlights people-centered planning principles and implementation practices, offering valuable lessons for countries in the Global South facing large-scale infrastructure-driven resettlement challenges.
• Informal Settlement Governance in Preah Sihanouk Province (Technical Report)
  Jointly developed by the UN-Habitat China Office and the Wuhan Planning & Design Institute (Wuhan Transportation Development Strategy Institute), this report adapts Chinese urban development and governance experience to the Southeast Asian context, exploring practical pathways for cross-border knowledge transfer in informal settlement upgrading.

The collective release of these three cases demonstrates a systematic effort to translate local urban practices into international public goods, marking a concrete step forward in strengthening South–South cooperation on sustainable urban development.

Advancing the Future Cities Dialogue Mechanism

In his remarks, Roi Chiti, Human Settlements Officer at the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, emphasized that housing is no longer solely a matter of shelter, but a multidimensional global challenge closely linked to climate resilience, social equity, and human security. He noted that innovation-driven and open cooperation are essential to scaling up effective solutions and transforming national experiences into global public goods that benefit cities and communities worldwide.

Aline Matta, Head of the UN Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities (UNITAC), commended China’s experience, highlighting its strong portfolio of replicable achievements in smart construction, digital governance, and urban regeneration. She called for strengthened global collaboration in knowledge sharing and capacity building to better align international expertise with local urban needs.

The event was chaired by YING Sheng, Country Manager of the UN-Habitat China Office. ZHANG Zhenshan, Senior Advisor to the UN-Habitat China Office, delivered the closing remarks, reaffirming the Office’s commitment to advancing the Future Cities Dialogue Mechanism. Building on the CFCC platform, the mechanism will further connect cities, technology companies, research institutions, and international organizations, deepening cooperation in housing, climate action, and digital innovation.

These efforts will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, while supporting the creation of more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities for all.