“The Spirit of Cities” - Launch of the VR Exhibition of the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (hereinafter referred to as "A Review of Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation") was successfully held at the Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center on May 14. The launch was convened by the Guangzhou Municipality, UCLG and Metropolis in cooperation with the Guangzhou Education Bureau, Guangzhou Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau and Southern Finance Omnimedia Corp.,etc.. Zhan Decun, Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office, Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government and Carlos Giralt, Consul General of Mexico in Guangzhou both attended the launch and delivered a speech; Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG addressed by video.

Having been severely challenged by the COVID-19 on global urban governance, exploring the relationship between urban innovation and sustainable development has become more realistic and urgent. Mr. Zhan hoped that the exhibition can provide new ideas for international urban innovation and more residents will pay attention to urban innovation, bringing more inspirations to urban governance. 

From Ms.Emilia Saiz’s perspective, the exhibition demonstrated that Guangzhou has always remained true to opening as it regards the world as a place of inspirations, drawing inspirations from the world and bringing inspirations back to the world.

Mr.Carlos Giralt viewed Guangzhou as a metropolis solves many major challenges innovatively which others cities in the world can learn from.

The shortlisted cities initiatives of the fifth Guangzhou Award were included in the exhibition, special sections concerned combating the pandemic and pursuing SDGs were also displayed. Meanwhile, the“Drawing the Future of Cities” Art Exhibition was held with drawings from Guangzhou High School of Fine Arts students, allowing them to depict future cities’ blueprint in their mind through brushes, motivating them to serve as the major players of sustainable development pursuit.

（scan the code to visit the VR Exhibition)