More than 300 guests from 19 countries and regions including Japan, South Korea, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal and New Zealand participated in the 2022 International Conference on Green and Innovation-driven Development in Cities and Towns, which opened in Wuxi City of Jiangsu Province on November 2.

With the theme of "dialogue with the world for green development," the conference was jointly organized by the province's Foreign Affairs Office, Development and Reform Commission, Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Wuxi Municipal Government.

Irene Pivetti, president of Italy-China Friendship Association and former Speaker of the Italian Parliament, introduced Italy's green development practices in manufacturing, automobiles and other sectors.

Noting sustainable development helps protect the earth and take care of future generations, she said Italy will continue to contribute to the green economy and carry out more exchanges and cooperation with Jiangsu in the endeavor.

Professor Wang Jianguo of Southeast University, also member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the world faces common challenges in finding the path of high-quality development, managing the relationship between nature and human-related activities, and promoting the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Wang also said the green and innovation-driven development of cities and towns is an important step to achieve high-quality growth and Chinese model of modernization.

(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

Other speakers in the conference's opening ceremony included consuls general of Turkey and Portugal in Shanghai, heads of friendship organizations in New Zealand, Switzerland and Portugal, and mayors of Wuxi's sister-cities, including Hamilton in New Zealand, Lahti in Finland and Ulsan in South Korea.

The conference also held three sideline events on towns with unique characteristics, gardens, and rural and industrial integration.