Recently, the International Mayors Communication Centre (IMCC) attended several important UN meetings, including two stakeholder consultations ahead of the mid-term review of the New Urban Agenda, a parliamentarian stakeholder group consultation, and the 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum). This demonstrates the continued deep involvement of this non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in various important UN agendas. Notably, the IMCC’s teams in Shenzhen and New York attended the second stakeholder consultation ahead of the mid-term review of the New Urban Agenda and the STI Forum on the same day, respectively, highlighting the prosperity, efficiency, and dynamism of the IMCC.

The year of 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the New Urban Agenda. The UN General Assembly will hold a high-level meeting on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda between July 16 and 17, 2026. The gathering will result on a concise and action-oriented political declaration to renew commitment and accelerate the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. Poland and Malawi, co-facilitators of the intergovernmental negotiations of the political declaration, invited stakeholders to online consultations on March 27 and May 7. The IMCC team was invited to attend and speak at both consultations.

The consultation on March 27 informed the Elements Paper for the preparation of the political declaration. Participants from around the world actively offered suggestions. Jin Lan, also known as Lily Jin, founder of the IMCC, led a delegation to the meeting. Kirk Lan, international public relations consultant of the IMCC, spoke on behalf of Jin and submitted written recommendations after the meeting.

Jin Lan (second row, first from right), founder of the IMCC, attends the consultation. Agnes Chimbiri Molande (second row, second from right), permanent representative of Malawi to the United Nations, and Krzysztof Szczerski (fourth row, first from right), permanent representative of Poland to the United Nations, serve as co-chairs.

Jin Lan (top row, second from left), founder of the IMCC, listens to the speech by a participant (bottom left). Krzysztof Szczerski (bottom right), permanent representative of Poland to the United Nations, serves as co-chair.

Jin Lan (second row, second from left), founder of the IMCC, attends the consultation.

The IMCC recommended that UN-Habitat strengthen the publicity of the New Urban Agenda, and organize an effective department, establish an evaluation system, and propose a fund to specifically guide local and regional governments around the world to transform global commitments into local results. The IMCC is willing to coordinate with Hong Kong and other Chinese cities to cooperate with the United Nations, creating a demonstration case first and promoting it globally. The IMCC also suggested vigorously advocating green consumption and cultivating a green finance market to form a virtuous cycle of sustainable development.

Kirk Lan speaks on behalf of Jin Lan.

The consultation on May 7 circulated the Elements Paper for the Political Declaration on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda, which reflected written inputs from stakeholders. The meeting collected feedback from participants on the Elements Document and their additional inputs on issues which the Political Declaration should include. Commissioned by Jin Lan, founder of the IMCC, Kirk Lan, international public relations consultant of the IMCC, and his teammates Roxy Zhang and Gris Pan attended the consultation.

Appointed by the IMCC, Kirk Lan (third row, second from right), Gris Pan (third row, second from left), and Roxy Zhang (top left) attend the consultation. Agnes Chimbiri Molande (fourth row, second from right), permanent representative of Malawi to the United Nations, and Krzysztof Szczerski (first row, second from left), permanent representative of Poland to the United Nations, serve as co-chairs.

Kirk Lan, speaking on behalf of Jin Lan, expressed hope that the Elements Document and the Political Declaration would put more emphasis on green energy. Oil prices have soared recently as a result of the war the Middle East, affecting world economy and people’s life, and highlighting the importance of green energy. He also invited participants to visit the Practices Center at the World Urban Forum later in May to learn about a demonstration project recommended by the IMCC: the transformation of old buildings in Shuiwei Village, Futian District, Shenzhen, China into a low-rent, livable community suitable for young talents. The financing and planning methods of this project are worth recommending.

Agnes Chimbiri Molande (bottom right), permanent representative of Malawi to the United Nations and co-chair of the consultation, listens to the speech by Kirk Lan (bottom left).

The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from May 17 to 22, during which a Parliamentarians Roundtable will be held. On April 16, UN-Habitat organized a parliamentarian stakeholder group consultation online to solicit inputs towards the Parliamentarians Roundtable at WUF13 and the Baku Call to Action, the WUF’s outcome document. Jin Lan, founder of the IMCC, led a team to participate in the online consultation and entrusted Kirk Lan, the IMCC’s international public relations consultant, to speak during the consultation, suggesting that parliaments promote financing related to old housing renovation, green bonds, green buildings, and green electricity to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable urban development, with companies with good ESG performance coordinating the development and construction.

UN Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach delivers a video address.

Kirk Lan (top left) speaks on behalf of Jin Lan.

From May 6 to 7, the 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) of the United Nations was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. The forum was convened by ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa, and co-chaired by Chola Milambo, permanent representative of Zambia to the United Nations, and Gregor W. Koessler, permanent representative of Austria to the United Nations. The theme for the forum was: “Transformative, equitable and coordinated science, technology and innovation for the 2030 Agenda and a sustainable future for all.” On May 7, Dr. Cai Bin, chief representative of the New York office of the IMCC, attended the forum on behalf of Jin Lan, founder of the IMCC.

A scene of the forum.

Dr. Cai Bin at the forum.

Dr. Cai Bin at the forum.