World Mayors Gather In Nanjing, Release Consensus On River Cities Development

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- World mayors and representatives from sister cities across Brunei, Egypt, Germany, and UNESCO Creative Cities Network cities recently gathered in Nanjing, China, to discuss urban development through the lens of water and jointly release the "Nanjing Consensus on Major River Cities Development".

The consensus calls on cities worldwide to promote localisation of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, strengthen ecological protection in major river basins, advocate green, low-carbon and circular development models, and collaborate on global development challenges, according to a statement.

Hosted by the Nanjing Municipal People's Government, the three-day "2025 World Mayors Dialogue: Nanjing" concluded on Nov 21. The event featured a high-level dialogue platform and on-site visits highlighting Nanjing’s urban development.

Guests praised the Xiaoxihu Lake Historical Area’s "micro-renovation" model, which preserves street layouts and historic building appearances while balancing residential life with scenic display functions, presenting an international example of historical preservation and community revitalisation.

Along the Yangtze River, sightings of wild finless porpoises, clear waters, and high-rise buildings on both banks demonstrated Nanjing’s ecological conservation achievements.

China’s advancements in "smart manufacturing" for carbon reduction and energy efficiency impressed participants, particularly Nanjing Steel Group’s artificial intelligence-controlled real-time environmental monitoring system.

Furthermore, landmarks such as the Nanjing City Wall Museum and the Zhonghua Gate barbican showcased the city’s integration of historical heritage with modern urban development.

During the event, delegates engaged in discussions on urban governance, development trends, and global challenges. Nanjing reaffirmed its commitment to contributing its unique expertise to collaborative urban development worldwide.

-- BERNAMA