On the afternoon of May 12, Sun Zhiyang, Mayor of Guangzhou, met with a delegation led by Chen Guangzhe, Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank.

During the talk, Sun expressed his gratitude for the strong support and assistance that the World Bank has provided for Guangzhou's development over the years. He also expressed Guangzhou's willingness to deepen cooperation with the World Bank in areas such as sustainable development and CitiesWithNature, contributing its unique insights to global sustainable development. 

Sun also said that Guangzhou always welcomes the World Bank to provide more guidance, which will help the city better align with international rules and standards.

Chen Guangzhe, a witness to Guangzhou's rapid development and dramatic changes, said that he was truly impressed by its achievements. In the future, the World Bank is willing to establish a long-term mechanism for exchanges and knowledge sharing with Guangzhou to disseminate the city's urban development experience to the world. Meanwhile, he expressed his expectation for deepened cooperation and mutual development between the two sides.

The World Bank is a multilateral development institution with significant global influence. Over the years, it has engaged in in-depth cooperation with Guangzhou in transportation, environmental protection, industry, business environment, and other areas. In 2020, the two sides jointly launched the first pilot project of the "China Sustainable Urban Cooling Project." In May 2024, the World Bank invited Guangzhou to join Cities With Nature, making it the first Chinese city to join the initiative and earning the title of "Lighthouse City."