ALEXANDRIA, Egypt/SHANGHAI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Global Observance of 2024 World Cities Day was held on Thursday in Egypt's Alexandria, with five cities winning the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award).

The five cities were Morocco's Agadir, India's Thiruvananthapuram, Qatar's Doha, Mexico's Iztapalapa, and Australia's Melbourne.

World Cities Day stemmed from the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, which advocated for the idea of "Better City, Better Life." Celebrated annually on Oct. 31, the day promotes international urban dialogue.

This year, the World Cities Day's event was held on the theme of "Youth Leading Climate and Local Action for Cities."

Chinese Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong said that World Cities Day has always focused on promoting sustainable development of global cities, and is committed to creating a development pattern that is inclusive, balanced, coordinated and inclusive, featuring win-win cooperation and common prosperity.

It has become an important platform for cities to share experiences, seek common development and create a future together, he said, adding that World Cities Day has greatly promoted the joint efforts of countries to build better cities in the fruitful first decade since its inception.

"We believe that in the second decade, World Cities Day will play a greater role in promoting the sustainable prosperity and development of cities around the world," the Chinese minister said.

Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN Human Settlements Program, depicted the day as an important platform for cities that are really engaged in and working towards "sustainable and equitable transformation."

Addressing the opening ceremony, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said, "This event gives us the opportunity to explore new solutions to the environmental challenges facing cities, especially those under increasing pressure from climate change, such as our coastal cities."

The Shanghai Award is dedicated to recognizing the outstanding progress and achievements of cities and municipalities around the world in their implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the New Urban Agenda. Enditem

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