Core Viewpoint - China's urbanization is transitioning from a rapid growth phase to a stable development phase, focusing on improving existing urban quality and efficiency rather than large-scale expansion [1] Group 1: World Cities Day Development - World Cities Day was established following the Shanghai Expo in 2010, with the aim of promoting sustainable urban development globally [2] - The first decade of World Cities Day has seen significant growth, establishing a framework for global activities and creating key products like the Shanghai Manual and the Shanghai Award [3] Group 2: Global Engagement and Activities - World Cities Day has developed a multi-layered global activity system, facilitating urban exchanges and citizen participation across various cities [4] - Major events have been held in cities like Milan, Quito, and Liverpool, with the next main event scheduled for Bogotá in 2025 [4] Group 3: Shanghai's Role and Initiatives - Shanghai has become a hub for World Cities Day activities, hosting significant events like the Urban Development Global Conference, which focuses on innovative urban development themes [5] - The Shanghai International Urban and Architecture Expo showcases innovations in urban construction and management, emphasizing smart and green development [6] Group 4: Achievements and Products - The Shanghai Award and the Shanghai Manual have gained international recognition, with the third Shanghai Award receiving applications from 85 cities across 33 countries in 2025 [7][8] - The Shanghai Index provides a scientific assessment of urban sustainability progress, with the 2025 report offering insights into various urban application scenarios [8] Group 5: Innovation and Future Directions - World Cities Day serves as a platform for showcasing innovative urban management solutions, including early warning systems for disasters and smart city infrastructure [9] - China aims to contribute unique solutions and wisdom for global urban sustainable development through World Cities Day initiatives [9]

Core Viewpoint - Shanghai is actively promoting the concept of a "People's City" through various urban development initiatives, focusing on sustainability, community engagement, and enhancing the quality of urban life [10][11][12]. Group 1: Urban Development Initiatives - The "People's City" concept was first introduced by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Shanghai in November 2019, emphasizing that cities should be built for the people [10]. - Shanghai has established international platforms for sustainable urban development, such as the World Cities Day and the Global Sustainable Urban Development Award [10][11]. - The city is working towards becoming a "Park City" by integrating public spaces and community needs, with the recent completion of the 1,000th park, the West Bank Natural Art Park [12]. Group 2: Community Engagement and Housing - Shanghai is implementing a multi-tiered affordable rental housing system, with 600,000 units planned and 395,000 units already supplied as of September 2023 [13]. - The city is focusing on community micro-updates to enhance local living conditions, while also planning large-scale updates for business districts [12][13]. - Initiatives are in place to improve the quality of waterfront spaces, with over 100 stations targeted for enhancement to better serve citizens and tourists [13].

Core Insights - Shanghai is establishing itself as the permanent host for World Cities Day, leveraging the Urban Development Conference to promote sustainable urban development globally [1][6] - The initiative began with the Shanghai Expo in 2010, leading to the UN General Assembly designating October 31 as World Cities Day in 2014, marking it as the first international day proposed by China [1][3] - The Urban Development Conference serves as a platform for global experts to discuss urban sustainability challenges and share best practices, enhancing international collaboration [3][7] Event Themes and Progress - Each year, the World Cities Day focuses on different themes related to urban development challenges, with the first conference in 2021 addressing climate change and resilient cities [3][4] - The 2022 conference emphasized local actions leading to global impacts, while the 2023 theme centered on resource integration for sustainable urban futures [3][4] - The upcoming 2024 conference will explore experiences and practices in building inclusive and sustainable cities, promoting public engagement in sustainability initiatives [4] International Public Goods - World Cities Day has become a significant platform for promoting urban sustainability concepts and developing international public goods, including the Shanghai Index and the Shanghai Manual [6] - The Shanghai Index provides evaluation tools for assessing urban sustainability levels, while the Shanghai Manual compiles best practices for urban governance [6] - The introduction of the Global Sustainable Development City Award (Shanghai Award) further enhances the international influence of China's urban sustainability efforts [6]

Core Points - The 2025 Shanghai International Urban and Architecture Expo will be held from October 30 to November 1, with a scale of approximately 40,000 square meters and a theme of "Smart Empowerment of Urban and Rural Construction, Green Leading Low-Carbon Development" [1] - The expo will feature six thematic display areas, four industry development exhibition areas, and multiple on-site activities, offering a more comprehensive content and diverse interactive experiences compared to previous events [1] - The World Cities Day exhibition area will reflect on the 11-year development of World Cities Day, showcasing international public products such as the "Shanghai Manual - A Guide to Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century" and the Global Sustainable City Award (Shanghai Award) [1] - The district-level construction achievements display area will present several "firsts," while the artificial intelligence display area will provide an immersive experience of AI technology's industrial application in the construction sector [1] - The four industry development exhibition areas will gather leading enterprises in the industry, showcasing core technologies and benchmark projects, highlighting the new productive forces in the construction industry [1]