(Yicai) Nov. 3 -- This year’s edition of the Shanghai Manual, a guide for sustainable urban development in the 21st century, looks at 24 examples of best practice and was released on Oct. 31, World Cities Day.

The manual, first launched in 2011, is jointly developed by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the Bureau International des Expositions, and the Shanghai government with support from China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. They co-released the latest edition at the main event held for World Cities Day in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The 2023 Shanghai Manual includes 24 cases from 14 countries, covering themes such as startup funds, circular economy, green finance, public welfare, as well as projects in the Belt and Road Initiative, a China-led global infrastructure project.

Six cases were drawn from China: the micro-redevelopment of Nanjing’s Lake Xiaoxi community; green finance in Quzhou, Zhejiang province; carbon capture and credit trading in Sanming, Fujian province; Chengdu’s community development fund; Shanghai’s Xintiandi public welfare park program; and Shanghai’s ecological community scheme in Putuo district.

“Many successes have proved that human beings are fully capable of coping with the difficulties and challenges of development, and are fully capable of creating cities with a better future,” said Dong Jianguo, China’s vice minister for housing and urban-rural development.

Looking ahead, Dong expects China to continue working hand in hand with other countries on exchanges and cooperation, sharing in-depth experiences in urban planning and construction. China is predicted to build more livable, resilient, and smarter cities, and jointly promote sustainable development of global cities, Dong added.

Editor: Emmi Laine