The World Cities Day 2019 promotion ceremony was held at World Expo Museum in Shanghai on the afternoon of September 29. This year's World Cities Day global host event will be held in Ekaterinburg in Russia, while China's host event will be held on October 31 in Tangshan, Hebei province.

　　World Cities Day is the first city theme international day which established by the United Nations. On October 31, 2010, Expo 2010 Shanghai Summit Forum issued the "Shanghai Declaration" which proposed that October 31 as World Cities Day. This designation is expected to promote sustainable development in cities around the world and further cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and challenges in urbanization. The World Cities Day was established on 27 December 2013 by the General Assembly in its resolution, in which the General Assembly decides to designate 31 October as World Cities Day since 2014. This is also the first international day initiated by the Chinese government at the United Nations.

　　The general theme of World Cities Day isBetter City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme is selected, to either promote successes of urbanization, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization. This year, the United Nations has selected the theme “Changing the world: innovations and better life for future generations” to discuss how urbanization can be used to achieve sustainable development. It aims to promote the international community’s interest in implementing theNew Urban Agendaglobally and in enhancing cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization in cities.

　　As an important legacy of Expo 2010 Shanghai, the site for the launch of the World Cities Day promotion is of great significance. At the event, Chairman of the World Expo Museum Council Hong Hao, Chief Engineer of Shanghai Municipal Housing Urban-Rural Construction Management Committee Liu Qianwei, Dean of School of International and Public Affairs of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Hu Jinxian delivered speeches and introduced the participation of relevant units in the event. Leaders of Shanghai Coordination Centre of World Cities Day and China Institute for Urban Governance and other institutions also made speeches to introduce relevant activities and future development of World Cities Day 2019.

　　The Director of the World Expo Museum Liu Xiuhua introduced the connection between World Expo Museum and World Cities Day. Since the establishment of the two organizations in 2010, they have shared the common purpose of " Inheriting Expo legacy, carrying forward Expo spirit and sustaining Expo essence". World Expo Museum is the only official museum and authorized documentation centre of BIE, World Cities Day is also the first international day initiated by the Chinese government at the United Nations, both sides play a unique role as a platform for China's public diplomacy and Shanghai's construction of an international metropolis. Over the past 9 years, both sides have made positive explorations in exhibition display, participation in overseas expos and promotion of events. Take the principle of mutual benefit and common development, World Expo Museum and World Cities Day decide to make full use of advantages and complementary resources to establish a cooperative relationship around the expo and legacy of World Cities Day. Let more countries and people know about World Cities Day and create more opportunities and platforms for international cultural exchanges.

　　Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Housing Urban-Rural Construction Management Committee Zhang Zhen presented letter of appointment to Teng Junjie(Right)

　　In addition, famous director Teng Junjie was appointed as the cultural promotion ambassador for World Cities Day 2019. He was the chief director of the opening and closing ceremony of Expo 2010 Shanghai and almost all the major events of the expo. He is also the author of the book "Asking and Expressing" which clearly expounds his thoughts on the development of urbanization and his outstanding achievements and extensive influences in the fields of international cultural exchange and urban development.

　　Present certificates to NGO Partners

　　Shanghai Coordination Centre of World Cities Day signed the strategic cooperation agreement with World Expo Museum, China Institute for Urban Governance, Huaqiao Fundation.etc.

　　The sidelights of annual promotional video and video message from public relations officer to World Cities Day were played at the event.

　　According to the organizer, Shanghai will hold a series of social promotion activities, including World Cities Day Youth Urban Secret Tour, public class, Creative Mask Competition in this October. At the same time, the organizer will exchange and discuss the innovative development of urban life in countries all over the world and show the theme of World Cities Day by a series of international activities, such as World Cities Healthy Development Forum, International Community Public Benefit Forum, International Waterfront Cities Design Forum, Global Cities Forum, etc

　　In addition, events such as "2019 Global Cities Forum"," World Cities Day - Shanghai Forum" and " World Cities Day Shanghai International City and Architecture Expo" will be held at the same time with World Cities Day 2019. In order to enhance the awareness and influence of World Cities Day in China and promote the sustainable development of global cities, the special subway cultural train, bus advertisement and construction site enclosure advertisement are used for social promotion.