Integrating global wisdom

To push forward reform on urban development through creativity and innovation, countries need to borrow experiences from all over the world.

In November 2015, the 38th session of the UNESCO General Conference approved the founding of ICCSD in Beijing. And in June 2016, the center was officially launched. As the first UNESCO international center for creativity and sustainable development, ICCSD is expected to promote cultural and creative industries and the global flow of cultural products and services.

“Cultural and creative industries are vital to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China’s experience on urban development can be a good example for other countries to learn from,” d’orville told Chinafrica.

As early as 2012, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the University of Nairobi established the Beijing- Nairobi Innovation and Design Research Center as a platform for exchanges on innovation between China and Africa. Since its establishment, students and designers have conducted exhibitions and exchanges on industrial design on the platform.

Margaret Jepkoech Kamar, Kenya’s former Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, noted the establishment of the center brought China’s innovative ideas on industrial design to Kenya and would accelerate Kenya’s efforts on realizing targets set by the Kenya Vision 2030. The vision is a national long-term development policy that aims to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle- class country providing a high quality of life to all its citizens by 2030 in a clean and secure environment.

d’orville urged China and Africa to strengthen cooperation and experience sharing on sectors like transportation infrastructure planning and engineering.

He believes ICCSD would accelerate the process of sharing Chinese experience on cultural and creative industries and promote cultural diversity, contributing to the realization of the UN’S 2030 Agenda.

“The purpose of this summit is to share resources and jointly push forward cooperation between cities busy with urban development driven by innovation and creativity,” said Chen Dongliang, Executive Deputy Director of the Organizing Committee Office of Beijing Design Week and Director of Beijing Industrial Design Center.

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