A man experiences riding an electric bicycle, Nairobi, Kenya, June 7, 2023. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

Edited by TANG Zhexiao

Participants from 137 member states attended the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly held in June, that sought to revitalize the world's urban cities amid multiple global challenges.

A commitment was made to advance multilateral engagement and international cooperation to address urban crises, according to The Guardian.

Many countries hailed China's experiences and practices in promoting urban and rural development by improving the living environment, and looked forward to partnering with China in sustainable urbanization.

Maimunah Mohd Sharif, executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, said she was impressed by China's approach to people-centered urbanization during her visits to the country.

The strategic measures that China has adopted to green its cities are a boon to the global quest for sustainable urbanization, climate resilience and inclusive growth, according to Sharif.

As the highest global decision-making body on sustainable urbanization and human settlements, the UN Habitat Assembly convenes every four years.

Since 1992, UN Habitat has collaborated with China to promote housing and sustainable urbanization. The fourth World Urban Forum was held in Nanjing in 2008, under the theme of "Harmonious Urbanization and Balanced Territorial Development." In 2014, Shanghai called for the establishment of the yearly World Cities Day as a UN Day.

Displayed on the sidelines of this year's assembly, Chinese-themed stands were a popular attraction at the urban expo.

Led by Ni Hong, minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Chinese delegation of more than a dozen exhibitors, including Tongji University and Kenya's envisioned technology city that has partnered with Huawei, showcased innovative solutions to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals for cities.

Sarah Masaki, the principal planner at Kenya's Ministry of Lands, who visited Tongji University's stand, said China's achievements over the years provide the solution on how to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring energy security and economic growth.

African countries are experiencing a continuous and rapid wave of urbanization currently, and are troubled with "Urban Diseases" such as traffic jams and air pollution.

With the help of Chinese companies, the public transportation in African countries has been improved and people have more low-carbon travel options. For example, the Chinese-built Nairobi Expressway significantly reduces logistics and commuting costs, as well as emissions, reflecting the concept of green and low-carbon travel, said Masaki.

The Mombasa County secretary Jeizan Faruk also visited the stand erected by MOJA, the operator of the Nairobi Expressway. Thanks to heavy input from China in terms of capital, technology and reskilling of local youth, Kenya's infrastructure modernization has accelerated, he said.

Rebecca Bor, a member of the Nairobi River Commission Secretariat, said she has learned experiences from China's Sponge City program. Bor said they can borrow a leaf from China's sponge city book to help manage storm waters that are usually a problem in Nairobi during the heavy rain season.

The urban and rural areas are inseparable and the two should develop in a coordinated manner, said Vincent Kitio, who heads the Urban Energy Unit of UN Habitat, adding that China has combined rural revitalization with carbon emission reduction to achieve green development, which is worth learning from developing countries.

Malaysian Minister of Local Government Development Nga Kor Ming echoed this view, saying that Malaysia is strengthening cooperation with China and learning from China's experience to promote the green transformation of the economy and achieve sustainable development.

China has put people's well-being front and center, followed a new vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, and taken comprehensive measures to implement the 2030 Agenda according to its national implementation plan, said the UN.

It is the common responsibility of all countries worldwide to respond to the challenges of global crises. China will continue to work with UN Habitat, committing itself to achieving a sustainable urbanization, said Ni Hong.