Guangzhou embraced the Plenary Session of the main events of the One Award, One Conference and One Festival, on Dec 7.

The Plenary Session of the main events of the One Award, One Conference and One Festival is held on Dec 7 in Guangzhou, the capital city of South China's Guangdong province. 

Mr. Ma Peihua, Vice Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) gave a keynote speech at the Plenary Session. Other speakers include Mr. He Zhongyou, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr. Wen Guohui, Mayor of Guangzhou, Co-President of UCLG and Co-President of Metropolis, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Dr. Yossi Vardi, Co-Chairman of Digital Life Design and Founder of the DLD Tel Aviv Innovation Festival.

"The awards will encourage countries to learn from each other and overcome their individual weaknesses," said Ma in his speech.

"I believe this event will help cities in China to work more closely with other countries and intensify cooperation," he added.

Ma Peihua, Vice Chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference gives a keynote speech during the event on Dec 7. 

Vice Governor He said, "Innovation is an essential force driving the city to a higher level." He added that the event helped bring global wisdom together "to better implement the innovation-driven development strategy and make Guangdong an innovation hub in China".

Host city Guangzhou is committed to becoming a Strategies-Hub-type Network City.

"The Guangzhou Award has helped form a think tank in urban governance," Song said. "It serves as a platform to share experiences of urban innovative development and promote innovative and sustainable development for global cities."

Wen Guohui, Mayor of Guangzhou gives a speech at the Plenary Session on Dec 7. 

Parks Tau, a co-organizer of the event, said, "The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation has made a very positive impact.

"The whole world is experimenting with innovative projects on sustainable development, we need to learn from each other, to copy, promote and share new concepts," Tau said.

"Guangzhou has seized the opportunity for regional development and boosted innovation. It has shown its great potential and bright future."

Vardi said, "The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation has set a good example of how to tackle the challenges that cities face while developing."

On the behalf of Guangzhou Government, Guangzhou Municipal Party committee and Guangzhou people, Wen Guohui, Mayor of the city, extended a warm welcome to guests from home and abroad.

"The 2016 Guangzhou International Innovation Festival is specially organized to attract innovative talents to give their insights and share wisdom," Wen said. "All cities will share green and innovative products through this event."

Local government leaders, foreign experts, and representatives also attended the Plenary Session, including Zhao Fulai, deputy secretary general of Guangdong Provincial Committee of CPPCC; Josep Riog, Secretary General of UCLG; Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC), and Felip Roca, Secretary General of the Metropolis; the governors or mayor/vice mayors from countries of the 15 shortlisted cities, such as Egypt and Turkey, as well as mayors of sister cities Bristol (UK), Linköping (Sweden), and Genoa (Italy). Experts from the jury of the Guangzhou Award were also invited to the grand gathering.

The third Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (the Guangzhou Award) and 2016 Guangzhou International Urban Innovation Conference was held in Guangzhou from Dec 5 to 8. The Guangzhou International Innovation Festival was held at the same time. Together, the events are known as One Award, One Conference and One Festival.

The main events of One Award, One Conference and One Festival comprise of six parts, namely One Award (review and award ceremony of the Third Guangzhou Award), One Conference (2016 Guangzhou International Urban Innovation Conference), One Festival (Guangzhou International Innovation Festival), One Keynote Forum (Urban Governance Innovation: From Idea to Action), Six Forums (Forum: 2016 Guangzhou - Hong Kong - Macao - Taiwan Science and Technology Innovation Forum and Project Matchmaking, International Engineers' Forum: Craftsmanship and Innovation, New Development Concept and Urban Innovation, Regeneration and Transformation of Historic and Cultural Cities, Innovation on Urban Development, The Belt and Road & International Urban Innovation), and One Exhibition ( Urban Innovation and Corporate Innovation Exhibition). The master agenda covers more than 60 activities, attracting more than 1,000 guests from 42 countries and regions all over the world.