The 18th World Winter Cities Association for Mayors Conference (WWCAM Conference) was held in Shenyang on Sept. 12, 2018. The conference invited 41 city groups and 52 chamber of commerce groups from 30 countries, according to Shenyang Municipal Government. With the theme “winter city, better life”, WWCAM probed into the planning and construction management of winter urban, and the construction and green development of smart city. WWCAM will also innovate, as well as promote the exchanges and cooperation among winter cities so as to solve development problems around the world.
Since the first WWCAM Conference was held in Sapporo, Japan in 1982, it has been held every two years for 36 years. Building on its past success, this conference breaks through the limitations of member cities and warmly invites winter city representatives from countries facing common challenges across five continents, injecting new vitality into the exchanges among cities in the world.
“Cities of high latitude and altitude face more severe heating, traffic and environment problems.” During the conference, Lara Fritts, Director of Salt Lake City’s Economic Development Department said: “Salt Lake city plans to use 100% renewable energy for community electricity support and reduces 80% of greenhouse gases by 2040, allowing every citizen to enjoy fresh air in cold winter. Inspired by our Resources Plan, Shenyang government is in deep and close cooperation with us to transform from coal-based to renewable energy source.”
At the conference, 15 mayors or representatives from Sapporo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Vancouver, Canada; and Clermont-Ferrand, France, introduced their cities’ experiences and achievements, and gave related suggestions to building new smart cities with higher quality and efficiency, and developing green cities with more sustainable development.
48 business associations from 18 countries and 60 related enterprises from Liaoning, including Ambo Group of the United States, Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Japan, Orrin Group of Finland, European Union Chamber of Commerce, Shenyang Broad Group and Shenyang Tourism Group, attended the Winter Cities Business Cooperation Meeting, with about 150 people joining. During the meeting, more than 20 foreign enterprises and over 50 Chinese enterprises conducted one-to-one project connections on tourism, IT, environmental protection and other fields.
“Making Life Better”, clearly features not only the good wish and earnest pursuit of people around the world to better life, but also the inescapable historical responsibility of city management. Jiang Youwei, mayor of Shenyang, said that Shenyang is willing to strengthen communication and exchanges with other cities, deepen practical cooperation and promote sustainable and healthy development of the city. Meanwhile, many city mayors and chamber of commerce representatives also expressed their willingness to strengthen communication with Shenyang, vigorously develop international cultural tourism industry projects, and share experiences and achievement of precise urban planning, delicate development and lean management.
Source: Shenyang Municipal Government
