On June 6, 2025, the four-day 2025 International Thought Leaders’ Workshop successfully concluded at the Guangzhou Library. Hosted by the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis) and organized by the Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation (GIUI), the workshop centered around the theme “Digital Technology: Accelerating the Local Implementation of the Global Agendas.” More than 80 city government officials, representatives of international organizations, and urban governance experts from 11 countries, 19 cities, and 5 international organizations gathered in Guangzhou to share insights and practical experience, exploring new approaches to sustainable urban development.

The closing ceremony held that afternoon was moderated by Bao Yajun, Deputy Dean of the Urban Governance Research Institute at Sanya University. Speeches were delivered by Kuang Changping, President of GIUI, and Agnès Bickart, Head of Institutional Relations of Metropolis. Workshop participants Hamidreza Natanzi, Deputy for International Affairs of Tehran; Amaya Álvarez, Urban Expert at the European Commission and UNOPS; and Konstantinos Masouras, Architectural Engineer & Special Advisor to the Municipality of Chalandri, Greece, shared their reflections on the four-day learning journey. From urban mobility and community governance to cultural heritage preservation and smart urban services, they presented locally tailored solutions to the challenges faced by their respective cities and expressed hope for deeper transnational cooperation in the future.

In his remarks, Kuang emphasized that this workshop continues to embody the core values of the Guangzhou Award over the past 13 years — serving as a global platform for knowledge exchange and mutual learning in urban governance innovation. “We hope this exchange will inspire more creative thinking, facilitate the transformation of ideas into local practice, and accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to high-quality development in each participating city,” he said.

Agnès also spoke highly of the workshop’s outcomes. She noted that Guangzhou has long been one of the most dynamic and influential cities within the Metropolis network. The workshop allowed city leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds to engage in deep discussions on shared challenges, draw inspiration from each other’s experiences, and collectively shape a roadmap for the future of urban development.

Nicholas You, Executive Director of GIUI, delivered the closing summary. He reviewed the series of thematic discussions, site visits, and collaborative workshops, and highlighted how the “Guangzhou Experience” serves as a compelling example of integrating local innovation with global dialogue to promote continuous improvement in urban governance and advance international collaboration.

In the final segment of the ceremony, Deng Changxiong, Deputy Director-General of Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality; Agnès Bickart; Kuang Changping; and Liu Pingqing, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Library, presented certificates of completion to the workshop participants and joined them for a group photo.

Over the past four days, Guangzhou served as a window into global urban innovation. Participants visited several pioneering sites in Guangzhou. These visits offered firsthand insight into Guangzhou’s latest practices in digital community governance, public space revitalization, cultural heritage protection, and tech-driven urban development. Drawing from these experiences and their own city contexts, participants exchanged ideas, sparked creative thinking, and proposed a range of innovative solutions.

The workshop not only provided a valuable platform for face-to-face exchanges and collaboration among global urban leaders but also fostered a co-creative mechanism for sharing sustainable development practices. Moving forward, participating cities will take this workshop as a new starting point to localize the outcomes of the exchange and work together toward a greener, smarter, and more inclusive urban future.nd more inclusive cities.