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New Year Greetings

Chinese New Year, 2012

 

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

 

At this hopeful beginning of 2012, on behalf of the Secretariat of Global Mayors’ Forum (GMF) I would like to convey our best wishes to all of you who have been supportive of and dedicated to sustainable urban development.

 

Since the establishment of the GMF in 2005, we have been upholding the mission of “Bridging different cultures and together seeking solutions to sustainable urban development”. The GMF is both an advocate for and practitioner of sustainable development. Over the past 6 years, the GMF helped participants set up platforms, gather ideas, facilitate cooperation and consolidate achievements, to make it a better world for all people.

 

In November 2011 in the City of Zhuhai, the GMF with the Chinese Society for Sustainable Development (CSSD) jointly hosted a “Six-Party Forum – Road to the UN Rio+20 Summit” in the “green and low-carbon” conference mode. The CSSD’s President is Ms. Deng Nan, the daughter of former Chinese leader Mr. Deng Xiaoping. Invited by the Secretariat of the GMF, the Under-Secretary-General of United Nations as well as Secretary General of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) Mr. Sha Zukang, the Mayor of Oldenburg Dr. Gerd Schwandner, the President of the International Downtown Association Mr. David Downey, the Special Representative of UCLG ASPAC as well as Director of the European Department of CPAFFC Ms. Zhang Ruoning all took part in the conference. Other participants included representatives of governmental departments, civil society groups, private enterprises, academic institutions, media and universities. Participants engaged in a lively discussion on the theme of “Developing a Green Economy and Leading a Low-carbon Life”. On behalf of the GMF Council I brought forward a Declaration on “leading a green life” to support the UN Rio+20 Summit that would take place in June 2012. The UN Under-Secretary-General Mr. Sha Zukang and the President of the GMF Dr. Ching Men Ky were the first to sign the Declaration enthusiastically followed by the rest of the participants. The conference was a great success.

 

The GMF has become a high-end platform for urban stakeholders and a conference with name-recognition in the field of urban sustainability by organizing a number of activities and projects over the past 6 years. Here I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the Council members who have supported and contributed to our efforts. This includes the 8th Chairman of CPAFFC as well as the Honorary Chairman of GMF Mr. Chen Haosu, Chairman of the United World Chinese Association as well as President of the GMF Dr. Ching Men Ky, Vice Presidents of the GMF Ms. Jane McRae, Mr. Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, Mr. Björn Stigson and Ms. Mary Jane Ortega, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the GMF 2010-2011 Mr. Hu Shiying. In addition, the Secretariat is responsible for promoting the GMF and has received great support from key authorities such as UN-HABITAT, UNEP, UNDP, UNESCO, UNCSD, CPAFFC, the China International Friendship Cities Association, CCTV etc.

 

At the beginning of 2012, the GMF has shortlisted 9 Chinese cities, and will select one of them to host the GMF2012 on the theme of “Green, a City’s Future”.

 

The GMF2012 will host the Sustainable Development Award, initiated by the Chinese people and supported by UN institutions. To enhance the authority of the Award in the field of sustainable urban development, the Secretariat of the GMF will launch a magazine to profile urban stakeholders and projects, and to highlight cutting-edge information about global sustainability.

 

In addition, to turn the resources of GMF into real green industries and new forms of urban development, the Secretariat of the GMF has decided to create a Sustainable Development Practice Zone that will contain a positive ecological environment, a healthy living community and a green industrial district.

 

The Secretariat of the GMF will fully integrate the experience and resources gained over the past 6 years and will ensure that the participants in the GMF2012 will have an outstanding experience. I look forward to meeting you in 2012!

 

JIN Lan

Secretary General

Global Mayors’ Forum