More than 300 local government leaders from around the world are
gathering in Beijing for the World Mayors Forum which opens today.
Top of the agenda are discussions on coping with natural and
manmade disasters and how best to meet UN Millennium Development
Goals.
Speaking to China Daily yesterday, the president of the
Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
(CPAFFC) said the forum was a chance for foreign delegates to see
China's achievements.
"Through this event we intend to express our hospitality and
showcase our development," said Chen Haosu. "We also want to push
for more international cooperation and discuss different ways of
achieving local government goals through it.”
"Most of all, we want this to be a chance for mayors around the
world to gain more understanding of China," he added.
Founded last year, it is the first time the World Organization
of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) has held its mayors'
forum in China.
French delegate Georges Morin, deputy mayor of Gieres and
vice-president of Cités Unies France, was eager to learn from local
government officials from China and elsewhere.
"It will benefit cities for their mayors and administrators to
sit down for an exchange. It is a great opportunity to be here in
Beijing and to discuss the goal of local government exchanges," he
said.
Morin added that the China-France Culture Year has so far been a
successful example of cultural exchange between cities and
countries.
Chen, who is also vice-president of the UCLG, said more public
participation would be encouraged in local government-to-local
government exchange programs.
"In the China-France Culture Year, women from China have given
street performances in Paris and the giant bell from the Bastille
is now on display in Beijing. This is the first time it has ever
left France, and now every Beijing citizen can go and see it."
Chen said the forum is being held in preparation for the
Millennium Summit review in New York in September. At that meeting,
the UCLG will be advocating the creation of an officially
recognized advisory role for local governments in the UN.
The UN Millennium Development Goals pledged development in a
wide range of areas including poverty reduction, gender equality,
children's rights, and disaster management. Some of these points
have been listed on the agenda of the Beijing forum.
"Local governments are closer to the people. They have to deal
directly with issues like employment and public welfare. Because
they can more easily pick up on public feeling, they provide a
bridge between central governments and ordinary people," Chen
said.
(China Daily June 9, 2005)