Mayors' Forum discusses urban renewal, high-quality development in Fuzhou

The Mayors' Forum on High-Quality Urban Development in the New Era was held in Fuzhou, Fujian province, on Nov 1, bringing together more than 100 mayors, representatives of international organizations, and experts and scholars from China and abroad to discuss urban development.

As the main event of the Global Observance of World Cities Day, the forum focused on using urban renewal to drive high-quality development.

Ni Hong, minister of housing and urban-rural development, said China was willing to work with the international community to explore ways to improve cities through urban renewal. He outlined three priorities: making better use of existing urban space and land resources, developing new industries through urban renewal, and improving residents' quality of life.

He also called for improved urban planning, greater use of technology to support industrial transformation, and efforts to develop better housing, residential communities, and urban districts that meet residents' needs.

Anaclaudia Rossbach, UN under-secretary-general and executive director of UN-Habitat, said cities needed to pursue urban renewal by improving existing urban areas and their functions, strengthening resilience, and promoting inclusiveness. She added that she looked forward to working with China and global partners to turn innovative practices into knowledge, tools, and solutions for more inclusive, livable, resilient, and sustainable cities.

The China Urban Development Report (2025/2026) was also released at the forum.