(Yicai) Oct. 30 -- Fuzhou, in China’s southeastern Fujian province, was one of the five cities that received the inaugural Global Sustainable Cities Award, or Shanghai Award, at the 2023 World Cities Day China Observance in Shanghai.

Fuzhou received the award because it focused on sustainable development strategies for a green and digital economy and innovatively implemented urban water management projects to successfully manage complex river ecosystems and build a green, low-carbon, and eco-friendly city, according to the award comments.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the Shanghai municipal government co-sponsored the Shanghai Award, which is handed out to praise five global cities that performed well in adopting the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and New Urban Agenda and made significant progress in economic vitality, ecological construction, urban safety, and sustainable development capacity.

The other four cities that received the Shanghai Award are Australia’s Brisbane, Uganda’s Kampala, Malaysia’s George Town of Penang, and Brazil’s Salvador. Ten other cities, including Finland’s Espoo, were shortlisted.

Brisbane is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities. It creatively integrated data, technology, urban planning, and a sound financial system to develop strategies to deal with the city’s growing population, facilitating the regeneration and sustainable development of high-density urban areas while safeguarding the ideal lifestyle of local people, the award comments noted.

George Town of Penang, Malaysia’s biggest island city, made achievements in all-round sustainable development through climate adaptation programs, efficient financing mechanisms, innovative technological tools, and intelligent solutions, the award comments added.

El Salvador proposed a coordinated and goal-oriented strategic approach with a special emphasis on protecting women’s rights and cultural heritage and forming a replicable urban development experience, according to the award comments.

Kampala has made significant progress in road safety and connectivity, urban health, air quality improvement, sustainable financing, and renewable energy utilization based on innovative solutions, the award comments pointed out.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Futura Costaglione