Sub Forum: New Development Concepts and Urban Innovation, co-hosted by National Urban Think Tank Alliance, Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences, GIUI and Guangzhou Urban Innovation Research Center, was moderated by Dr. Guo Fan, President of Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences.

Dr. Zhang Yueguo, President of Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences delivers a speech at the forum of New Development Concepts and Urban Innovation. [Photo/provided to guangzhouaward.org]

Centering on the theme of global wisdom for local solutions, the forum invited representatives from global urban think tank to discuss urban development theory and practices under the guide of New Development Concepts. Eight keynote speeches were presented by Presidents of Academy of Social Sciences of other cities: Dr. Ye Nanke-Nanjing, Dr. Shen Xiang-Hangzhou, Dr. Ma Junyuan-Jinan, Dr. Chen She-Chengdu, Dr. Lu Chunming-Lanzhou, Dr. Zhang Yueguo-Guangzhou, and Mr. Lin Zhu, Executive Chairman of China Urban Operation League and Mr. Alioune Badiane, President of The Urban Think Tank Africa.

The Regeneration and Transformation of Historic and Cultural Cities Forum was jointly hosted by Nanfang Metropolis Daily and GIUI, supported by Guangzhou Urban Renewal Bureau and Guangdong Guodi Institute of Resource and Environment.

Guests pose for a photograph at the Regeneration and Transformation of Historic and Cultural Cities Forum held in Guangzhou on Dec 7. [Photo/provided to guangzhouaward.org]

How does a historic city such as Guangzhou find a balance between economic development and the preservation of historic and cultural heritage, and what can it learn from others? In order to investigate and discuss these issues, eight experts from home and abroad in the fields of city's planning and cultural relics preservation stated their ideas on the forum. Mr. Sunil Dubey, Senior Advisor to Metropolis, said that so far monthly increased population was equal to the population of Singapore or Denmark. Without newly added land, there would be no space for those increased population therefore it was significant to regenerate the old town for new people. At the same time he proposed a question how a city should regenerate and transform based on its original situation to preserve culture and develop creativity. "The future of a city lies in the ability to attract smart and creative talents, which needs to create an attractive and cultural environment".

Sub Forum: The Belt and Road Initiative & International Innovative Urban Development was hosted by Guangzhou International Urban Innovation Communication Study Center from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) and GIUI. The forum was first consisted of four keynote speeches made by Mrs. Bernadia Tjanderadewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC; Dr. Zhong Weihe, President of GDUFS; Dr. Ye Shuxian, Vice President of Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association; Dr. Luo Xuanmin, "Yunshan Scholars" and Professor of GDUFS.

Guests attend The Belt and Road Initiative & International Innovative Urban Development Forum on Dec 7. [Photo/provided to guangzhouaward.org]

According to Mrs. Bernadia's speech, the term "The Belt and Road Initiative" could refer to multiple meanings. Not only it was about the traffic route or the trade and economic exchange, but also it had deeper and wider amount of content. From historical perspective, The Belt and Road Initiative benefited people and regions along the routes and brought them prosperity. Moreover she said that this initiative covered 4.4 billion of people, many countries and regions of the world and she hoped it could still play a role of spreading prosperity today.

Dr. Zhong Weihe indicated that the international publicity of Guangzhou's city image exerted an influence not only on urban innovation of Guangzhou but also on shaping and spreading the China's national image.

Innovation on Urban Development Strategies -- Hub-type Network City Forum, co-hosted by Guangzhou South China Research Association (Think Tank) and GIUI and co-organized by National Community Care Education Committee, was held successfully at Guangzhou Library under the support of Jinan University and Guangzhou Land Resources and Planning Commission. On the forum, Mr. Peng Gaofeng, Director of Guangzhou Land Resources and Planning Commission explained the goals, strategies and actions of Guangzhou future planning and pointed out that the development of Guangzhou City and Pearl River System were bound together inextricably. "Guangzhou was born and is thriving and prosperous because of Pearl River". Meanwhile he also said that as a national center city, Guangzhou was undertaking more and more functions of international division of labor.

Innovation on Urban Development Strategies -- Hub-type Network City Forum is held in Guangzhou on Dec 7. [Photo/provided to guangzhouaward.org]

"Hub-type Network City could be referred to connecting external city with internal via different kinds of network and then form an organic whole. And by creating a hub, a city can improve its influence and strengthen its leading ability". Professor of School of Public Administration of Jinan University and President of Guangzhou South China Research Association (Think Tank), Dr. Hu Gang also said that Hub-type Network City was an updated version of former concept of Trade City and it was advocated to enable Guangzhou to meet the requirement of adapting to new development trend of global cities, maintaining its urban development structure and enhancing the function of national key center city.