# Global City Leaders will discuss how to Build Resilient Cities and Adapt to a Disrupted World in First Virtual World Cities Summit - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2021-06-10T03:00:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/global-city-leaders-will-discuss-how-to-build-resilient-cities-and-adapt-to-a-disrupted-world-in-first-virtual-world-cities-summit - **Topics:** Government & Policy, Investment & Capital Markets, Sustainability & PropTech ## Featured rationale Its focus on resilient infrastructure, sustainability and climate-ready planning signals stronger policy attention that could shape future urban development and building practices. ## AI summary The 7th World Cities Summit will run from 21 to 23 June 2021 in its first largely virtual format, with over 3,500 registrants. ## Original article The 7th edition of the biennial World Cities Summit (WCS) will be held this year from 21 to 23 June, in a largely virtual format. This is the first time that WCS will feature both physical and virtual sessions in its programming, with speakers and audience dialling in remotely from locations worldwide. Guests based in Singapore will be invited to attend select sessions in-person at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Adapting to a Disrupted World Inaugurated in 2008, WCS has successfully brought together key global leaders in the urban sectors, enabling cities to learn from one another’s’ shared experiences to better prepare for the future. Themed "Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Adapting to a Disrupted World", WCS 2021 will explore the urgency of building a resilient city, to tackle disruptions like COVID-19 and other unexpected crises, and the fundamental need for cities to take a long-term view to ensure sustainable and equitable development. Over 3,500 participants have registered for the upcoming WCS 2021 in June, which will feature a mix of hybrid sessions and a suite of virtual plenaries accessible virtually by a global audience. Key event features WCS will kick off on 21 June, with a mix of panel discussions, fireside chats and dialogues with mayors, city leaders, and senior leaders from the private sector, academia and international organisations. The discussions will focus on structuring public infrastructure projects for resilience and sustainability, nurturing community leaders to better adapt to disruptions, and sparking ideas on how cities can respond to various crises, such as pandemics and climate change. This will be followed by fully virtual panel sessions on 22 June with speakers sharing their views on the post-pandemic outlook. Notable speakers at WCS 2021 include: • Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies; • Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development & Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration; • Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development; • Ms Sally Capp, Lord Mayor of Melbourne; • Mr Juan Mari Aburto, Mayor of Bilbao; • Mr David Malpass, President of World Bank; • Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat; The world is a very different place since the last Summit in 2018, but I am glad we are still able to convene global leaders in the urban sectors for a sharing of knowledge and experience. In fact, this is probably the first time so many cities around the world are facing a common challenge. We hope this will lend impetus for cities to learn from one another’s shared experiences to better prepare for the future, albeit virtually.” said Mr Hugh Lim, Executive Director of the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), a co-organiser of the WCS. “The hybrid format of the World Cities Summit is an example of how we can adapt despite a global pandemic. This works in our favour as we will be able to unlock access to a much wider global audience and facilitate more vibrant discussions on sustainable urban development and reimagining the future,” he added. Other programme highlights The WCS 2021 programme will be complemented by partner events that deep dive into topics such as building smart and sustainable cities, net zero carbon cities, and the science to building social resilience. Some of these topics will be covered in a list of publications which CLC is launching at WCS in June. Beyond June, WCS 2021 will continue with a series of webinars from July to November 2021, focusing on topics such as transforming cities through technology, planning for climate-ready cities and how to build healthy and happy cities. We look forward to welcoming over 5,000 participants for our events spanning June to November 2021. ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 全球城市领袖将在首届线上世界城市峰会讨论如何建设韧性城市并适应受冲击的世界 第七届两年一度的世界城市峰会（WCS）将于今年6月21日至23日举行，主要以线上形式进行。这是WCS首次在议程中同时设置实体与线上环节，演讲嘉宾与观众将从世界各地远程连线参与。身在新加坡的嘉宾将被邀请亲临金沙会展中心出席部分选定场次。 宜居与可持续城市：适应受冲击的世界 世界城市峰会于2008年创办，成功汇聚城市领域的全球重要领袖，使各城市能够相互学习彼此的共同经验，更好地为未来做好准备。以“宜居与可持续城市：适应受冲击的世界”为主题，2021年世界城市峰会将探讨建设韧性城市的紧迫性，以应对新冠肺炎疫情及其他突发危机等冲击，以及城市从长远视角确保可持续与公平发展的根本需要。已有超过3,500名参与者报名参加即将于6月举行的2021年世界城市峰会，峰会将结合混合形式场次，以及一系列可供全球观众线上参与的虚拟全体会议。 主要活动亮点 世界城市峰会将于6月21日拉开帷幕，安排一系列专题讨论、炉边谈话，以及与市长、城市领袖，以及来自私营部门、学术界和国际组织的高级领导人的对话。讨论将聚焦于如何为韧性与可持续性构建公共基础设施项目、培育社区领袖以更好地适应冲击，以及激发城市如何应对疫情与气候变化等各类危机的思路。随后将于6月22日举行完全线上的专题讨论，由演讲嘉宾分享对后疫情前景的看法。2021年世界城市峰会的知名演讲嘉宾包括： • 副总理兼经济政策统筹部长王瑞杰先生； • 国家发展部长兼社会服务融合事务主管部长李智陞先生； • 总理公署部长、财政及国家发展部第二部长英兰妮女士； • 墨尔本市长萨莉·卡普女士； • 毕尔巴鄂市长胡安·马里·阿布尔托先生； • 世界银行行长大卫·马尔帕斯先生； • 联合国人居署执行主任迈穆娜·穆罕默德·谢里夫女士； “自2018年上届峰会以来，世界已大不相同，但我很高兴我们仍能召集城市领域的全球领袖分享知识与经验。事实上，这大概是世界各地如此多城市首次面对共同挑战。我们希望这能推动各城市相互学习彼此的共同经验，更好地为未来做好准备，尽管是以线上方式。”世界城市峰会联合主办方宜居城市中心（CLC）执行司长林显利先生说。 “世界城市峰会的混合形式，正是我们如何在全球疫情下适应的例证。这反而对我们有利，因为我们能向更广泛的全球观众开放参与，并促进关于可持续城市发展与重新构想未来的更活跃讨论。”他补充道。 其他议程亮点 2021年世界城市峰会的议程将辅以合作伙伴活动，深入探讨建设智慧与可持续城市、净零碳城市，以及建设社会韧性的科学等课题。其中部分课题将收录在宜居城市中心于6月世界城市峰会期间发布的一系列出版物中。 在6月之后，2021年世界城市峰会将于2021年7月至11月继续举办系列网络研讨会，聚焦通过科技转型城市、规划气候就绪城市，以及如何建设健康与幸福城市等课题。我们期待欢迎超过5,000名参与者参加我们横跨2021年6月至11月的各项活动。