Greetings from the city of Guangzhou.
It has been a general consensus among cities and local governments worldwide that innovation leads a city towards development and helps to create a better life for its citizens. Urban innovation in an all-round manner can help a city in its attempts to address challenges arising in such fields as social-economic development, environmental protection and urban governance.
For this reason, Guangzhou, in cooperation with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and Association of Major Metropolises, established the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (abbreviated as the Guangzhou Award) in 2012. The 1st Guangzhou Award has received 255 applications from 153 cities in 56 countries, earning attention from urban managers, researchers and the media worldwide. It is our expectations that the Guangzhou Award would enjoy greater support and participation in the future while tapping in a more effective manner the innovative practices and experience it generates, so as to further explore its innovative values and resources.
In accordance with the resolution of the Executive Bureau Meeting held in Rabat, Morocco and with wide support from UCLG World Secretariat, Guangzhou proposed the establishment of the UCLG Community on Urban Innovation within the framework of UCLG. On 19th June 2014, at its Executive Bureau meeting in Liverpool, UCLG Executive Bureau approved the establishment of the UCLG community on urban innovation. By taking advantage of the membership network, the Community can mobilize member cities and other representative partners — international organizations, professional associations, research institutions and MNCs working on urban innovation with influence—to organize activities including urban innovation seminars, field research and high-level international training programs. With a close reference to the Guangzhou Award initiatives, these activities will inspire cities worldwide to exchange achievements on urban innovation and learn from each other.
Hereby I kindly request your support to the Community, and sincerely invite you to join us and actively engage in our future activities, so as to share your successful practice on urban innovation with cities around the world.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to the Guangzhou International Conference on Urban Innovation to be held from Nov 27th-29th, 2014. Please accept the assurances of our highest consideration.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Chen Jianhua
Mayor of Guangzhou, Co-President of UCLG
