On August 1st, the 2nd High-Level International Forum on Sustainable Urban Development, a three-day forum co-organized by United Nations Human Settlements Programme and China Center for Urban Development was inaugurated in Chengdu. Themed on "Urban Transformation and Development", this forum gathered more than 500 guests from all around the world who delivered keynote speeches, held thematic dialogues and special seminars which focused on ways to achieve urban economic growth, social development, resource utilization and environmental protection through innovation and transformation for China and the world in the future.

　　It was the second time for Chengdu to host the forum. Last year, the first forum launched the First 5 Pilot Cities for International Sustainable Development, among which Chengdu and Langzhong City of Sichuan Province was selected. During the forum, the Guidelines to Pilot Cities for International Sustainable Development was released. At the same time, the World Bank and China Center for Urban Development of the National Development and Reform Commission signed and issued the Framework for Urban Sustainable Development, which would provide the city with full support to promote sustainable development from vision formulation, fund source identification till final planning.

　　The first launching ceremony of carbon neutral project in our province marked one of the highlights of this forum. Carbon neutral projects (i.e. calculating the total amount of carbon dioxide emission generated by activities and then planting trees to absorb them) have been adopted in recent years in high-standard international conferences. In October, Chengdu will enclose a forest for carbon neutrality covering an area of 500 mu in Longquan Mountain Urban Forest Park, in order to completely neutralize the carbon emissions caused by this forum.

　　Mr. Yao Sidan, Vice Governor of Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.