2021 Global Mayors’ Forum and the 13th Metropolis World Congress, co-organized by CPAFFC, UCLG, World Metropolis Association, and Guangzhou Municipal Government, was held from November 8 to 13 in an online-offline hybrid format. Over 800 guests from 126 cities in 80 countries and 9 international organizations were invited to the 6-day 24 conferences and activities. Hangzhou was also invited as the member of Metropolis board of directors and member of UCLG Council. Zhou Shu, Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government, Du Shigen, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government, and Guo Weihong, Full-Time Vice-Chairman of Hangzhou People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, attended the Plenary Session of 2021 Global Mayors’ Forum on the evening of November 11.

The session was themed by “Moving Forward in Partnership and Modernizing Global Urban Governance”. Ma Biao, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, sent a video message. Ambassador Lin Songtian, President of CPAFCC, Qu Dongyu, Director General of UNFAO, Li Yong, Director General of UNIDO, Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG, and municipal and provincial officials from Guangdong made a speech respectively. Zhong Nanshan, recipient of the Medal of the Republic and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a speech on China’s fight against COVID-19. Mayors of and experts and scholars from Xi’an, China, Praia, Cape Verde, Heidelberg, Germany, and other cities delivered their keynote speeches. The innovative methods and approaches of worldwide urban governance were discussed jointly so as to assist the urban governance improvement.

Ma Biao stated that the “Global Development Initiative” put forward by President XiJinping drawn a new map in the worldwide cooperation. China would support and encourage the cities and governments tomore effectively play their roles as the forefront and main force in the global fight against COVID-19, engine and benchmark of global development, partner and carrier of global cooperation, and participant and promoter of global governance. China also hoped they would continue to make greater contributions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and building of a community of a shared future for mankind.

Ambassador Lin Songtian pointed out that changes unseen in the last one hundred years and one of the most serious pandemics in a century have been superimposed over each other. The building ofa community of a shared future for mankind with mutual development could bethe only correct choice. He hoped that cities of all countries would focus on poverty alleviation and promote global sustainable green development, build smart cities and promote the modernization of urban governance, strengthen exchange and mutual understanding to achieve common prosperity, practice true multilateralism, and uphold justice and equity in the world. He also called on cities of all countries to partner with each other and pursueshared development.

Zhong Nanshan shared Guangzhou’s experience and practices in fighting against COVID-19. He explained the clinical features and dissemination characteristics of Delta variant, the necessity of vaccination, the relationship between economy recovery and pandemic control, and stressed that the global community should continue to unite and work together.

Emilia Saiz remarked that everyone should cross urban boundaries and overcome isolation to builda better home in unison. She called on cities to launch a green transformation and develop sustainable green economy that could benefit future generations.

Hangzhou joined World Metropolis Association, the predecessor of the UCLG, in 1998, became a member of UCLG Council in 2016, and became a member of the board of directors of Metropolis in 2017. Ever since CPAFCC and Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government initiated and established BRLC under the framework of UCLG ASPAC in 2017, Hangzhou has positively taken the responsibility and successfully organized a series of international communication activities, making in-depth cooperation with UCLG.