The 4th International Urban Cooperation Project (IUC) City-to-City Event is held online on Dec 3. [Photo by Lin Xin/chinanews.com]

Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was invited to be one of the representatives for China to share its anti-COVID-19 experiences at the 4th International Urban Cooperation Project (IUC) City-to-City Event held online on Dec 3.

Attendees from more than 80 countries and regions gathered online to discuss pressing issues related to urban sustainable development in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.

Hou Gang, vice mayor of Liuzhou, said that the city has released a series of initiatives quickly to address the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, helping companies deal with problems in areas spanning supply chains, product sales, and financing.  

Hou noted that building a city with a strong focus on human health and safety, as well as a strong capability to respond to major public health emergencies is of vital importance in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. 

Efforts should be made in both the building of hard and soft infrastructure, Hou said, such as providing an urban operation security system with complete system functions spanning medical services, emergency rescue, transportation, as well as health and environmental protection. It is also important to establish comprehensive mechanisms for areas like pandemic prevention and control, as well as regulations on emergency rescue. 

Hou added that advanced technologies like new transportation systems that incorporate internet and big data technologies with e-payments and express service have played vital roles in Liuzhou's COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control efforts. The process of digital city construction should be further accelerated to comprehensively improve the level of urban informatization.

In addition, Liuzhou has been active in developing and applying green and low-carbon technologies, such as promoting new infrastructure construction for charging facilities of new energy vehicles, as well as supporting investment for green electrification to provide a solid foundation for the green and low-carbon revival of Liuzhou's economy.

IUC is part of a long-term strategy by the European Union to foster sustainable urban development by cooperating with both the public and private sectors.

Liuzhou became the pilot city for EU-China cooperation in regional politics within the IUC framework in 2018, signing a total of 17 memorandums of cooperation to carry out close cooperation with EU cities in areas spanning industry, technology, and education.