PENANG Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran represented Malaysia at the prestigious Global SDG Cities Conference and World Cities Day 2025 celebrations held in Shanghai from Oct 26 to 27.
Upon arriving, he was warmly received by the Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Ni Hong, at the international gathering, which brought together more than 1,000 participants, including ministers, mayors, urban planners, and global development leaders.
Jointly organised by the Shanghai Municipal Government and UN-Habitat, the conference carried the theme “Innovative Development towards People-Centered Smart Cities.”
It served as a key platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and advancing the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the New Urban Agenda.
As one of the highlights of World Cities Day, the conference showcased innovative solutions to strengthen sustainable, inclusive, and smart urban development.
Shanghai, the birthplace of World Cities Day, continues to lead global dialogue through initiatives such as the Shanghai Award for Sustainable Urban Development, the Global Urban Monitoring Framework – Shanghai Adaptation Index (SAI), and the Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century.
Rajendran was invited to deliver a speech during the official opening ceremony, alongside Ni Hong and Chi Chen Ji Ning, the secretary of the Shanghai CPC Municipal Committee.
In his remarks, the mayor expressed appreciation to the organisers for recognising Penang as one of the five recipients of the inaugural Shanghai Award in 2023, which acknowledged the state’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive urban growth.
“This recognition is not only an honour for Penang but also a reflection of Malaysia’s dedication to advancing sustainable city initiatives,” he said.
Rajendran also went on to highlight Penang’s success in securing a USD10 million grant under the Penang Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Programme.
The initiative focuses on nature-based solutions such as pocket parks, permeable walkways, shaded tree-lined streets, and blue-green corridors to enhance climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
He further shared that Penang has been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an Age-Friendly City, underscoring MBPP’s commitment to ensuring the well-being and quality of life for all communities.
Recalling Ni Hong’s recent official visit to Penang, the mayor noted that the minister had witnessed firsthand how the city successfully balances Unesco World Heritage conservation in George Town with efficient and resilient smart city management.
Rajendran also introduced the Virtual Island of Penang (VIP) initiative, a comprehensive digital transformation programme by MBPP that integrates real-time data for urban planning, mobility, heritage management, and environmental monitoring.
“The true measure of a smart city is not only in its technological advancement, but in its ability to uplift its people, creating a place where innovation blends with humanity, and progress becomes a tool for the common good,” he emphasised.
He concluded his speech by stressing that improving digital literacy and access to technology will drive innovation and talent creation, forming the foundation of a city’s prosperity and success.
The conference ended with renewed commitments from city leaders worldwide to strengthen efforts in building smart, sustainable, and people-centred cities, in preparation for the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May 2026.
Pix courtesy of MBPP