Modernizing Urban Governance with New Technologies and New Infrastructures was one of six sub-forums of the 2021 Global Mayors' Forum that took place in Guangzhou both online and on-site on Nov 12.

The forum was held by the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC) Administrative Committee and CSGKC Think Tank under the auspices of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the United Cities and Local Governments and the World Association of Major Metropolises.

Octavi de la Varga, secretary-general of World Association of Major Metropolises, said that new technologies will affect the way people govern cities, the way services are delivered, and the way citizens connect with public administrations. Since global cities will be urged to go through a transformation process in the post-pandemic era, the sub-forum aims to discuss how new technologies can be used to provide solutions.

Lu Jun, deputy dean of Peking University's School of Government, proposed to increase urban governance efficiency by accelerating the digitalization of government affairs. Peter Helis, chief advisor of the Guangzhou Development District investment promotion bureau, noted that the revolution brought by science and technology has completely changed people's lives, and new infrastructure is affecting government governance and urban construction in all aspects.

Shen Bazhong, executive president of Xidian University's Guangzhou Institute of Technology, Alfonso Govela Thomae, consultant of United Nations Children's Fund, and Mohammad Farjood, CEO of Tehran Municipality ICT Organization, also shared their vision of modernizing urban governance.