On October 16-18, the city of Xi’an, China, hosted a session of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Council, which was dedicated to discussing innovative approaches to local development and shaping a sustainable future.
From the Georgian side, the participants included members of the delegation presented by the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) in UCLG, Otar Grigolia, Chairman of the Tbilisi Municipality Assembly’s “Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia” faction, and Levan Abashidze, a deputy of Tbilisi’s representative body.
Within the framework of the session, discussions were held on the role of cities and local governments in global development, financial and innovative mechanisms to support urban transformation, as well as the concept of care-oriented and equality-focused development. Delegates actively discussed the importance of delivering local services, ways to enhance citizen engagement, and new models for sustainable urban growth.
The event included sessions on innovations and the exchange of best practices, which provided cities with the opportunity to gain experience from practices adopted in various international contexts. In addition, delegates attended official plenary sessions, committee, and financial group meetings, as well as UCLG’s legislative and executive sessions. Within the framework of the event, an exhibition on innovative urban development was held, which gave participants the opportunity to explore new approaches to the sustainable transformation of cities.
The United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) is a global network of cities, local governments, regional authorities, metropolitan entities, and their associations. It works to protect and amplify the voices of local and regional governments. Through collaboration, dialogue, and knowledge sharing, UCLG strives to drive global action by fostering grassroots commitments and agreements that connect communities and empower them at the local level.