ＣＰＡＦＦＣ Ｐｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ Ｃｈｅｎ Ｈａｏｓｕ Ｌｅａｄｓ Ｄｅｌｅｇａｔｉｏｎ ｔｏ Ａｔｔｅｎｄ ２ｎｄ ＵＣＬＧ Ｗｏｒｌｄ Ｃｏｎｇｒｅｓｓ ｉｎ Ｊｅｊｕ，ＲＯＫ

Ｚｈａｎｇ　Ｒｕｏｎｉｎｇ

A CPAFFC delegation headed by its president Chen Haosu attended the Second World Congress of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) in Jeju, the Republic of Korea from October 27 to November 1, 2007. With “Changing Cities Are Driving Our World” as its theme, the Congress consisted of UCLG statutory meetings, plenary sessions, forums and the world urban fair. Twenty forums on specific topics were held during the Congress. ROK Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio and Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat Inga Bjork Klevby were present at the opening session. CPAFFC President Chen Haosu in his capacity as president of UCLG Asia-Pacific Regional Section (ASPAC) made a speech at the opening session. About 2,100 local government representatives from more than 110 countries participated in the Congress. President Chen Haosu, on behalf of UCLG-ASPAC, presented a monument symbolizing local governments and cities working hand in hand to the Government of the Special Self-Governing Province of Jeju.

Guangzhou Mayor Zhang Guangning Elected UCLG Co-President

According to the Constitution of UCLG, a new UCLG Presidency, vice presidents, World Council and Executive Bureau are elected every three years. At the UCLG Presidency election held on October 31, Zhang Guangning, mayor of Guangzhou of China and a candidate of UCLG-ASPAC, was elected co-president. Bertrand Delanoe, mayor of Paris, France, was reelected president. Other co-presidents elected were Mayor of Quito Paco Monayo of Ecuador, Mayor of Johannesburg Amos Masondo of South Africa and Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas of Turkey.

The CPAFFC, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou were elected members of the World Council, and the CPAFFC, Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin also members of the Executive Bureau. Haikou became a member of the World Organization of UCLG and UCLG-ASPAC.

Active Participation of Chinese Representatives

About 250 representatives from 20 Chinese provinces and cities attended the Congress. President Chen Haosu spoke on several important occasions, explaining Chinas positive attitude toward international cooperation between local governments. He said in his opening speech: “We put emphasis on strengthening cooperation between cities and local governments. Through such bilateral or multilateral exchanges and by respecting, learning from and supporting each other, it is hoped that these cities will achieve mutually beneficial and win-win results and common development. Inter-city and inter-local governmental cooperation is the basis for solidarity and cooperation of humanity and harmony among cities forms the foundation of a harmonious world. City diplomacy will contribute greatly to world peace and development.”

Exhibitions on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Shanghai Expo 2010, and Urban Development of Guangzhou and Haikou were mounted respectively by Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Haikou at the World Urban Fair at the Jeju International Convention Centre.

Representatives of Chinese cities took part in various forums. Guangzhou Mayor Zhang Guangning made a speech entitled “Building Livable Cities by Adhering to Development in a Scientific Way” at the Plenary Session with the theme “Cities the Future of Humanity: Addressing Climate Change”. He said, being one of the cities in the world, Guangzhou will further enhance its exchanges and cooperation with other cities, formulate and implement effective policies to reduce emissions, rationally utilize resources, protect environment, and take effective measures to conserve energy and reduce emissions in an effort to ensure coordinated development between the economy and the population, resources and environment. At one of the forums, Wang Li, vice mayor of Harbin, pointed out, economic globalization calls for social harmony and the cities that want to build themselves into civilized ones should take the road of harmonious development. Only by persisting in opening up and inclusiveness can a city achieve harmony. Hong Hao, deputy secretary general of the Shanghai Municipal Government and director general of the Bureau of the Shanghai World Expo Coordination, gave a briefing on the preparatory work of the Shanghai Expo 2010. Sang Guangyu, vice mayor of Yangzhou, talked about Yangzhous efforts to explore ways to protect and renovate the old city areas. Chen Feng, deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Dongsi Neighbourhood of Beijings Dongcheng District, briefed the participants on how the Neighbourhood Committee combines the Olympic ideas with community construction to promote community development and social progress by creating new modes of mass sports and cultural activities.

Representatives of other Chinese provinces and cities took part in various forums, at which they gave out brochures about their respective provinces and cities, established links and looked for opportunities of cooperation. Through these activities, they have further enhanced Chinas image as a country adhering to reform and opening up and seeking cultural progress, peace and friendship, and deepened understanding and mutual trust with the participants from other countries.