To mark the World Cities Day, 55 cities were selected as new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), including China's Chongqing and Chaozhou. To date, some 350 cities around the world comprise the UCCN network and work together to achieve common goals.
Established in 2004, the UCCN aims to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The network covers seven creative fields - crafts and folk art, media arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature and music.
Chaozhou and Chongqing have been granted the status of Creative City of Gastronomy, and Creative City of Design respectively, thanks to their strong commitment to harnessing culture and creativity as part of their development strategies, and displaying innovative practices in human-centered urban planning.
Nighttime scenery is one of Chongqing's many charms. /CFP
Located in southwest China along the Yangtze River, Chongqing is a city which combines tradition and modernity, featuring well-preserved ancient buildings and contemporary creative architecture that serves as an outstanding example of China's urban resilience and development.
An aerial view of Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province. /CFP
Chaozhou, a city in south China's Guangdong Province, is a paradise for foodies that serves as the cultural center of the Chaoshan region. As a branch of Cantonese cuisine, Chaozhou cuisine has earned its name due to its fresh, mild taste, exquisite style, and health benefits.
The newly designated cities will actively cooperate with other members of the network to strengthen their resilience in the face of global challenges such as climate change, rising inequality, and growing urbanization.