Mr. Sun Jiazheng pointed out in his speech that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are playing an increasingly prominent role in the governance of the country and the world. As an international organization, WCCO should possess lofty ambitions while having grand and feasible pursuits. Firstly, WCCO should serve the development of the cities and benefit the residents of the cities. Secondly, we should strengthen friendly exchanges among member cities, starting with the fields of tourism, culture and trade, to translate the wisdom and talent of experts from various fields into practical forces that propel development. Thirdly, as an international organization, WCCO should continue looking at the bigger picture of caring for the world and for the future of all mankind, while pay attention to its member cities and regions.

The meeting also witnessed a signing ceremony to launch the “Canal Cities Ecological and Cultural Industrial Development Fund”, followed by a brief appointment ceremony, at which ten experts were appointed as the first batch of members to the WCCO Expert Committee. The experts are:

Ms. Irene Pivetti, former President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies

Mr. David MacDougall, Secretary-General of Inland Water International (IWI)

Mr. Wu Wenxue, Vice President of China Tourism Association and former Vice Director of State Administration of Tourism

Mr. Zhou Jichang, President of China Highway Construction Association (CHCA) and former Chairman of the board of China Communications Construction Group (CCCG)

Mr. Lu Jianfei, Director of China Intangible Cultural Heritages Inheritance Research Center and former CPC Party Secretary of Shanghai Normal University

Prof. Zhai Kun, professor and Ph.D. supervisor at the School of International Relations and Director of the Global Interconnectivity Research Center of Peking University

Mr. Fei Shaoyun, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial Government

Prof. Zhang Kai, professor and Ph.D. supervisor at the Institute of Communications Studies, Communication University of China

Mr. Su Jun, Vice President of China Insurance Investment Co., Ltd.

Mr. Ye Nanhong, Chairman of Realtek Semiconductor Corp.