Officials, experts and representatives of city planning and architecture attend the sub forum of the 5th China-CEEC Capital Mayors Forum in Beijing. The forum was held online via video link and offline at venue in Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture on Nov 19, 2021. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A panel session on resilient cities and smart development was held via video link in Beijing on Nov 19, 2021.

The forum, co-hosted by Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA), University of Mostar, and attracted over 200 representatives from 39 universities and institutions in 15 countries. It was a parallel forum of the 5th China-CEEC Capital Mayors Forum.

Yin Fei, first-class inspector of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality speaks at the sub forum of the 5th China-CEEC Capital Mayors Forum in Beijing, on Nov 19, 2021. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

“How to strengthen urban resilience under the situation of pandemic prevention and control is a crucial issue faced by major cities around the world,” said Yin Fei, first-class inspector of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality.

“Therefore, the forum provides a platform for countries along the Belt and Road and scholars from relevant universities in Central and Eastern European countries to figure out measures to foster sustainable city development,” Yin said.

With the coronavirus ravaging the whole world, society’s call for working in solidarity to combat challenges is getting stronger.

Huang Kan, deputy director-general of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, said the conference demonstrates the responsibility for building a community with a shared future for mankind, and reflects the sincere expectation for the informatization, diversification and globalization of the higher education in the special period.

According to Jiang Zeting, Secretary of CPC Committee of BUCEA, the forum is part of the university’s efforts to promote Beijing's high-quality development and help the capital to build itself into an international communication center.   

“BUCEA will carry out a series of pragmatic measures, including training international innovative talents and providing international scientific and cultural exchange services, in a bid to integrate itself to the capital's ‘significant foreign affairs’ and exert advantage in the city’s construction of an international communication hub,” Jiang said.

“The overwhelming pandemic placed a battery of unprecedented challenges in the presence of all cities around the world,” said Zhang Dayu, president of BUCEA.

The forum serves as a good opportunity for both China and Central and Eastern European countries to exchange ideas and experience concerning issues of urban governance and epidemic prevention and control, in a move to jointly improve the city resilience and provide citizens with a livable environment, according to Zhang .

Merima Arifhodzic, assistant to the mayor of Sarajevo speaks at the sub forum of the 5th China-CEEC Capital Mayors Forum in Beijing, on Nov 19, 2021. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Merima Arifhodzic, assistant to the mayor of Sarajevo, said countries are expected to join hands to tackle challenges in the face of COVID-19 in order to improve their anti-risk ability and achieve highly intelligent urban development.

COVID-19 accelerated the innovative development of digitization to some extent and created more possibilities for countries to apply modern technology to realize the transformation of smart cities, according to Zoran Tomic, rector of SUM.

During the meeting, a panel of experts delivered keynote reports and shared ideas and technical experiences on the issue of urban governance.

The academic session followed the 5th Belt and Road Architectural University International Consortium Conference, in which a declaration and an action of plan were issued.