The policy debate of the United Cities and Local Communities (UCLG) World Council was held in the south China city of Guangzhou on Friday. In his video address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that with nearly 90 percent of the coronavirus cases, cities are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tedros Adhanom Ghebrev, Director-General of WHO, warned that cities could not afford another crisis on the scale of COVID-19. All parties should work together to build a safer, healthier world.