The 5th Asia Pacific Cities Summit started in Chongqing Municipality in southwest China this morning and Vice Premier Huang Ju joined over 1,000 guests from 124 cities at the opening ceremony.

Of the cities represented, 107 are overseas and 16 are capitals, said Wu Jianong, Chongqing's deputy mayor, at a press conference yesterday.

Twelve cities from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have also sent attendees, said Wu, adding that the three Taiwan cities were Taipei, Taichung and Taoyuan.

In addition to cities, representatives of 32 companies from the mainland and 255 from overseas will be present, such as GE, Siemens, Sony and Petro China, said Wu.

During the three-day summit, the first of its kind ever held in Asia, mayors, CEOs and academics will discuss the relationship between people and nature.

"Unlike previous sessions, a forum on economy and trade will be held," Wu said.

The initiator of the summit, the Australian city of Brisbane, came with the largest delegation of 120, led by Mayor Campbell Newman.