ON October 31, World Cities Day, representatives from cities around the world gathered in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, to attend the Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025.

They jointly witnessed the presentation of the 3rd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award), and shared the achievements of urban sustainable development showcased in the English versions of the Shanghai Manual 2025 Annual Report, and the Shanghai Adapted Index Application Report.

FROM CONCEPT TO PRACTICE

From proposing the Expo 2010 Shanghai China, concept of “Better City, Better Life” to promoting the establishment of World Cities Day – the first international day themed on cities, Shanghai has always integrated the practical experience of building a “people-centered city” into its reflections on and contributions to the sustainable development of global cities.

Over the past decade and more, this international day has become a crucial platform for forging global consensus on urban sustainable development, and advancing the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

From its initial proposal in Shanghai, to its expansion to numerous cities across five continents today, World Cities Day has witnessed a profound transformation of global cities from conceptual awareness to concrete action.

Standing at the starting point of a new decade, the hosting of the Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025 in Bogota, Colombia, not only serves as a review of achievements over the past decade, but also represents a vision for and a new start on the path of urban development in the future.

FROM INITIATIVE TO SYSTEM

To inherit the World Expo concept and its successful practices, upon the conclusion of Expo 2010 Shanghai China, the Expo Organising Committee and representatives of all participating parties jointly released the Shanghai Declaration.

The declaration proposed designating October 31 – the closing day of Expo 2010 Shanghai – as World Cities Day, and clearly defined “Better City, Better Life” as the overarching theme of this day.

In 2013, the 68^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to establish World Cities Day. This marked the first international day initiated by the Chinese government and approved by the UN General Assembly, as well as the first UN international day themed on cities.

Through the joint efforts of China and international organisations such as UN-Habitat, the World Cities Day platform has gradually evolved. It has launched a series of public goods, including the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award), developed and released the Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century, and established the Urban Monitoring Framework – Shanghai Adapted Index.

The number of participating countries and cities has been on the rise, the influence of its brand has continued to grow, and the network of partners for World Cities Day has been expanding steadily.

In this process, Shanghai has gradually evolved from an initiator of concepts into a builder of the public goods system for global urban governance, contributing Chinese solutions to urban sustainable development that combine both theoretical depth and practical insights.

FROM SHANGHAI TO THE WORLD

The Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) is an international award jointly initiated and established by UN-Habitat and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. It also serves as a key vehicle for Shanghai to actively participate in global governance and promote the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda.

Last year, the 2nd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) was presented overseas for the first time. The winning cities included Agadir (Morocco), Trivandrum (India), Doha (Qatar), Iztapalapa (Mexico), and Melbourne (Australia).

This year, the Shanghai Award is going abroad once again, which will further expand the global influence of China’s experience in urban sustainable development, and demonstrate the continuous cooperation and leading role of China and the United Nations in the field of urban sustainable development.

On November 1, Shanghai will also co-host a thematic event for the Shanghai Award with UN-Habitat. Officials and representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, UN-Habitat, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government will attend the event and deliver speeches.

During the event, representatives from cities worldwide, academic institutions, and enterprises will share their experiences and practices focusing on areas related to the Shanghai Award and other sustainable development topics.