An online video seminar on sharing experiences in fighting against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among local governments in Asia-Pacific area is held on April 9. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

An online video seminar on sharing experiences in fighting against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among local governments in Asia-Pacific area was held on April 9.

The seminar, organized by the United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC), gathered about 100 representatives from several member cities in countries like China, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

UCLG is a global network of cities, local, regional, and metropolitan governments, as well as their associations.

Guangzhou, which is an important member of UCLG, was invited to share the city's efforts in carrying out COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, representing China.

Chen Yini, chairwoman of the UCLG-ASPAC Standing Committee Women in Local Governments (SCWLG), introduces Guangzhou's experience in fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) during the seminar on behalf of the city. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

Chen Yini, chairwoman of the UCLG-ASPAC Standing Committee Women in Local Governments (SCWLG), said during the seminar on behalf of Guangzhou that all cities in the Asia-Pacific area should team up and further enhance communication and cooperation. 

Chen suggested that more attention should be paid to the protection of susceptible populations, including the elderly, pregnant women, and children.

Attendees such as Tri Rismaharini, mayor of Surabaya and president of the UCLG-ASPAC, as well as Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, secretary general of the UCLG-ASPAC, expressed gratitude to Guangzhou for sharing its experiences. They also noted that learning from Chinese cities' measures in COVID-19 epidemic control is beneficial for all other member cities.

Guangzhou, which has been playing a significant role in several international organizations like the UCLG and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, has been recently invited to participate in seven international online seminars on global COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, in which it has introduced Guangzhou's experiences at four of these seminars.