Together with the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid had the honor of co-organizing the 2016 Imperial Springs International Forum at Imperial Springs in Guangzhou, China. Ten Club de Madrid Members, all of them former Presidents and Prime Ministers from different corners of the world, and over 100 international experts, gathered to consider and share ideas on a crucial aspect of the Belt and Road Initiative: how to contribute to more Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Cities.
A number of cities in the 60 countries and regions touched by the Belt & Road Initiative are world renowned economic and cultural centers. While they each have their own characteristics, these cities are complementary to each other and there is great potential for cooperation. The 2016 Imperial Springs International Forum called on all parties to work together and coordinate regional economic cooperation to promote local governance cooperation for better city development and better lives for the people.