From November 8 to 13, the 2021 Global Mayors' Forum and the 13th Metropolis World Congress were held both online and offline in Guangzhou. The events were co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (the UCLG) and the World Metropolis Association. On the plenary session of the 2021 Global Mayors' Forum on the evening of November 11, Ma Biao, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, sent a video message. Lin Songtian, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Li Yong, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, attended the conference and delivered speeches. Zhong Nanshan, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, shared China's anti-COVID experience. More than 800 guests from 126 cities in 80 countries and 9 international organizations were invited to attend the event, exchanging views on “Moving Forward Together, Modernizing Global Urban Governance” for the joint pursuit of global development.
The UCLG is the largest international non-governmental organization composed of cities and local governments in the world. Its member metropolis formed the World Metropolis Association, which serves as a branch of the UCLG and operates as an independent international organization. Beijing joined the UCLG in 2006. It is also a member of the World Metropolis Association. It has long been a member of the UCLG-ASPAC World Council and Executive Bureau. In recent years, Beijing has conducted extensive and fruitful cooperation with the UCLG and the World Metropolis Association in urban development, transportation and infrastructure.
On November 11, Beijing Foreign Affairs Office designated representatives of the city to attend online the plenary session of the 2021 Global Mayors' Forum.
