At the recent Global Mayors' Forum, Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, praised the host city Guangzhou as a model for sustainable development and said that the forum provided an opportunity for mayors worldwide to learn from Guangzhou's experience.

In an interview, Chatterjee emphasized that Guangzhou demonstrates the potential of sustainable urban development and serves as an example for cities around the globe.

Since January 2021, as the UN resident coordinator in China, Chatterjee has been deeply impressed by China, particularly Guangzhou. He recalled his first visit to the city in January 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he witnessed the city's and the nation's excellent public health measures. Chatterjee praised Guangzhou as a constantly developing city, where logistics, people, and trade intertwine. 

He also mentioned that Guangzhou's achievements are evident in its drive for sustainable growth, effective public policy measures, and ongoing development through cooperation. He said he believes the example set by Guangzhou is not only beneficial to other Chinese cities but also worth learning from for cities around the world.

Chatterjee said he hopes to organize visits for heads of various UN agencies in China and ambassadors to Guangzhou to strengthen exchanges.

Lastly, addressing the aging population issue in China, Chatterjee suggested that Guangzhou should focus on human-centered development while improving technology, ensuring no one is left behind in the journey toward sustainable growth.

This year's Global Mayors' Forum was held in the city from Dec 7 to 9.