Recently, the UCLG Retreat 2024 (United Cities and Local Governments Retreat 2024) was held in Barcelona, Spain. Nicholas You, the International Adviser of the Guangzhou Award, attended the meeting and shared experience and cases of the outstanding initiatives in the Sixth Guangzhou Award in this regard at the "Care System Facility".

The UCLG Retreat 2024 served as a platform for discussing collaborative efforts and formulating action plans based on work agendas set by governing bodies. Lasting a week, the retreat brought together urban leaders, governance practitioners, and experts to exchange ideas, innovate, and seek inspiring solutions to place local development at the core of the international agenda, offering a local perspective on global challenges.

Nicholas You's presentation centred on urban care systems. He emphasized the evolving care needs of urban populations, stressing the importance of changes at both the city and regional levels to enhance fairness and sustainability in urban life. Particularly, local governments should play a crucial role in promoting care system development through public services and urban planning.

Drawing from the 6th cycle of the Guangzhou Award, Nicholas shared innovative case studies advocating for "caring cities." These cases demonstrated how cities and regions foster care, support, and inclusivity among residents through policies, programs, and actions. He highlighted that building a "caring city" requires cooperation among governments, businesses, and community organizations to address the diverse needs of citizens and create an environment that ensures the overall well-being of residents.

Additionally, he underscored the importance of platforms like the Guangzhou Award and UCLG Retreat in promoting dialogue, sharing best practices, and inspiring innovative solutions to urban challenges. As an international advisor for the Guangzhou Award, he reaffirmed the commitment to advancing urban governance innovation and contributing to the development of more inclusive and sustainable cities globally.

The Guangzhou Award remains committed to collaborating with the international community to promote urban governance innovation, address urban challenges, foster cooperation, and share knowledge, collectively advancing global urban sustainable development.

The UCLG Retreat is an annual important conference aimed at connecting the UCLG and its partners to discuss collaborative work and formulate action plans based on work agendas. This year's week-long event provided a platform for urban leaders, governance practitioners, and experts to exchange ideas, innovate, and seek inspiring solutions, placing local development at the core of the international agenda and offering a local perspective on global challenges.