🎨 Ready for a design revolution? The 2025 World Design Cities Conference opened on Thursday in Shanghai, on the Chinese mainland, under the theme "Design Boosts Flourishing"! Jointly hosted by UNESCO and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, this gathering aims to build a global stage for design-driven innovation.
Mayor Gong Zheng looked back at Shanghai's journey since joining UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in 2010. Over the past 15 years, "Shanghai Design" has fueled the city's growth with creativity and originality. Now, Shanghai is racing toward becoming a world-class, modern, socialist international metropolis with global influence.
"We aim to better leverage the empowering role of design across industries, enhance the originality and influence of 'Shanghai Design', and speed up the construction of a world-class design capital," Gong stated. This vision supports a modern industrial system, boosts cultural soft power, and sets a people-centered city model.
From the media side, Xing Bo, vice president of China Media Group, highlighted how design can transform communication and enrich lives. "The beauty of design allows us to reshape communication through innovation, illuminate life with culture, and chart the future with technology," Xing noted. She looks forward to teaming up with Shanghai and global peers to forge new pathways for high-quality growth and smarter governance.
Shanghai's design sector now exceeds 1.6 trillion yuan (about $224 billion), showcasing how integrating design into industries, urban renewal, and public services can deliver concrete results. These insights could inspire other UNESCO Creative Cities members worldwide.
Stay tuned for more updates as the conference unfolds! 🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
