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]