Apec proposes principles for urbanization at forum

An official from one of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) member-economies has announced the adoption of the Ningbo Initiative at the Apec High-Level Urbanization Forum 2016, which seeks region-wide partnerships to promote inclusive and sustainable urbanization policies. 

Under the theme “Urbanization and Inclusive Growth,” representatives, including over 200 ministers, mayors, entrepreneurs and scholars from Apec member-economies, held policy dialogues and shared experience and information on developing urban infrastructure, advancing innovative city development, strengthening connectivity and improving city governance with a view to achieving people-oriented urbanization and inclusive growth.

“Urbanization is a crucial driver for advancing towards modernization,” said Xu Shaoshi, chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission at the opening ceremony. “It has become a cutting edge area of Apec cooperation.”

“Apec member-economies are in different stages of urbanization, which provides diversity of demands and strong complementarity of advantages,” he said. “By sharing experiences and best practices, Apec member-economies will jointly seize new development opportunities and address challenges related to environment, resources and social governance brought by urbanization.”

In his remarks, Peruvian Ambassador to China Juan Carlos Capuñay said urbanization cooperation among Apec member-economies requires an innovative approach.

“This forum helps facilitate the development of entrepreneurship, urban development, as well as mutual harmony and communications between societies and cultures in the Asia-Pacific region.”

An Apec Ministerial Roundtable covered issues such as connectivity between Asia-Pacific cities, sustainable urban development and innovation during the urbanization process.

Following the Ministerial Roundtable, representatives from Apec member-economies issued the Ningbo Initiative as the main deliverable for this forum.

To help achieve the Asia-Pacific Urbanization Partnership and realize the goal of common development, prosperity, and progress, the Ningbo Initiative puts forward the following proposed courses of action: promoting inclusive and dynamic urban growth; building smart cities; developing green cities; encouraging urban regeneration and retrofit;

driving innovative urban development; advocating for good urban governance; and

boosting Apec cooperation on sustainable urban development.