This photo taken on Oct. 31, 2025 shows the award ceremony of the 3rd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities in Bogota, Colombia. The Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025 was marked here on Friday in Colombia's capital under the theme "People-Centered Smart Cities." The event was held alongside the award ceremony for the 3rd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award. (Photo by Andres Moreno/Xinhua)
BOGOTA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025 was marked here on Friday in Colombia's capital under the theme "People-Centered Smart Cities."
The event was held alongside the award ceremony for the 3rd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award.
Attendees included United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach, China's Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong, and government representatives from countries including Colombia and Mexico.
In her address, Rossbach stressed the importance of putting people at the center of urban development amid the rapid urbanization worldwide, and that technology should be harnessed to address housing and development challenges.
She called for advancing smart city construction and leveraging technology, data and digital services to protect the rights and interests of all residents, especially vulnerable groups.
In his remarks, Ni said that China has always upheld the vision of building people-centered cities, advancing urban digital transformation, and leveraging digital and intelligent technologies to improve urban services and enhance residents' sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.
China will continue to firmly support UN-Habitat in playing a greater role in advancing sustainable urban development, he said, adding that China is ready to share experience, seek growth, and build a better future together with all partners in jointly promoting the sustainable development of cities around the world.
The 3rd Shanghai Award this year was granted to Colombia's Bogota, Algeria's Algiers, South Korea's Incheon, Saudi Arabia's Medina and Finland's Espoo.
Mayor of Bogota Carlos Fernando Galan noted that the Colombian capital has made remarkable progress in improving people's well-being, with poverty and child malnutrition drastically reduced. Meanwhile, the city has made efforts such as large-scale reforestation and water source protection to promote sustainable development, he said.
During the event, Rossbach and Ni signed a host country agreement concerning upgrading UN-Habitat's China office and expanding bilateral cooperation in China.
Also on the occasion, the 2025 edition of the Shanghai Manual and the English version of the 2025 Shanghai Adapted Index Application Report were released.
World Cities Day, marked annually on Oct. 31 since 2014, is the first UN-designated international day dedicated to cities. It is the first international day initiated by China and approved by the UN. ■
China's Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong addresses an event to mark the Global Observance of World Cities Day in Bogota, Colombia, Oct. 31, 2025.
The Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025 was marked here on Friday in Colombia's capital under the theme "People-Centered Smart Cities."
The event was held alongside the award ceremony for the 3rd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award. (Xinhua/Xu Yongzheng)
Artists perform during an event to mark the Global Observance of World Cities Day in Bogota, Colombia, Oct. 31, 2025.
The Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025 was marked here on Friday in Colombia's capital under the theme "People-Centered Smart Cities."
The event was held alongside the award ceremony for the 3rd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award. (Photo by Andres Moreno/Xinhua)
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach addresses an event to mark the Global Observance of World Cities Day in Bogota, Colombia, Oct. 31, 2025.
The Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025 was marked here on Friday in Colombia's capital under the theme "People-Centered Smart Cities."
The event was held alongside the award ceremony for the 3rd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award. (Xinhua/Xu Yongzheng)
Mayor of Bogota Carlos Fernando Galan delivers a speech during an event to mark the Global Observance of World Cities Day in Bogota, Colombia, Oct. 31, 2025.
The Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025 was marked here on Friday in Colombia's capital under the theme "People-Centered Smart Cities."
The event was held alongside the award ceremony for the 3rd Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, also known as the Shanghai Award. (Xinhua/Xu Yongzheng)
