Shanghai and Chongqing, China October 2025 – The UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) participated in a series of events in China marking World Cities Day 2025 under the theme “People-Centered Smart Cities”. The events held in Shanghai and Chongqing, provided a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and dialogue on sustainable urban development, the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.
SDG Cities Conference 2025
From 25 to 27 October, UN-Habitat Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Kazuko Ishigaki, participated in SDG Cities Global Conference 2025 in Shanghai. Organized by UN-Habitat and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, the conference was held under the theme “Innovative Development Towards People-Centered Smart Cities” and brought together nearly 1,400 participants from government, academia, international organizations and the private sector.
During the event, the Chinese version of the 2025 Shanghai Manual was launched, which features 21 exemplary cases from 19 cities across 11 countries. The publication highlights innovative experiences in improving urban management, economic development, and people’s livelihood services through data driven approaches, technological innovation, and artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award) was presented, strengthening cooperation and showcasing global leadership in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through urban action.
World Cities Day Observance in Chongqing: People Centered Smart Cities Towards the Future
From 28 to 29 of October, Ms. Ishigaki joined local and national government representatives, and international partners to celebrate World Cities Day 2025 Observance in Chongqing, organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China (MOHURD), and the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government.
The event brough together 780 participants from 118 cities, and 96 countries, showcasing how cities are harnessing innovation, inclusion, and technology to improve housing, governance, and service delivery.
Ms. Ishigaki emphasized that “technology should serve citizens” and reaffirmed UN-Habitat’s commitment to supporting cities through leveraging digital innovation, partnerships, and multilevel governance to achieve sustainable urban transformation.
The event demonstrated China’s efforts in applying digital and intelligent technologies to urban development. Ms. Ishigaki highlighted that these examples can inspire peer-to-peer learning among cities globally, accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.