CHONGQING, China, October 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A report from iChongqing:
Anacláudia Rossbach, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, praised Chongqing’s progress in building a sustainable urban future during the opening of China’s World Cities Day 2025 celebration on October 28 in Chongqing, calling the use of digital technology to improve housing, governance, infrastructure and public services inspiring.
Rossbach said Chongqing’s experience offers valuable lessons for megacities around the world to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda, which promote inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development through smart planning, better infrastructure and people-centered services.
Themed “People-Centered Smart Cities Towards the Future”, the two-day event marks the first celebration held in China’s central and western regions.
In an interview with Bridging News, Kazuko Ishigaki, regional director of UN-Habitat ROAP, emphasized that technology is only a tool and that a smart city “cannot be smart without people.”
“Technology must serve citizens,” she said, adding that Chongqing’s development and the theme of this conference closely align with UN-Habitat’s vision for people-centered smart cities.
Vuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela, deputy speaker of South Africa’s Gauteng Provincial Legislative Assembly, said her country’s emphasis on sustainable urbanization aligns with China’s commitment to green development and smart city innovation.
Mhlakaza-Manamela noted that more than 68% of the world’s population now lives in cities, a share that continues to grow. She added that the lessons learned from Chinese cities, particularly Chongqing’s infrastructure investments and integration of smart technologies, are invaluable.
At the opening ceremony, Chongqing released the Chongqing Voluntary Local Reviews and the Chongqing Initiative for the celebration of World Cities Day 2025 in China. The Shanghai Manual 2025 Annual Report: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century was also promoted, further highlighting China’s contributions to the advancement of global urban sustainability.
Throughout the celebration, a series of activities took place, including the main forum, side and thematic forums, an exhibition of achievements and field visits.
World Cities Day, the first international day of cities organized by the UN and the first initiated by China, emerged from the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and is celebrated annually on October 31 to promote global urban dialogue.
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SOURCE Hongqing
