Huzhou is included in CitiesWithNature initiative at the 7th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities, an integral part of the ongoing COP15, in Montreal, Canada, on Dec 13. [Photo/WeChat account: huzhoufabu]

Huzhou was included in the CitiesWithNature initiative at the 7th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities, an integral part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP15, in Montreal, Canada, on Dec 13.

The city in East China's Zhejiang province is the first Chinese city to be included in the initiative, which recognizes and enhances the value of nature in and around cities across the world. 

CitiesWithNature provides a shared platform for cities and their partners to engage and connect, working with shared commitment towards a more sustainable urban world.  

During the summit, Huzhou was also conferred the title of "Biodiversity Charming City". Five other Chinese cities - Kunming, Chengdu, Nanyang, Jiaxing and Shenzhen – also received the title.

Huang Runqiu, the president of COP15 and China's minister of ecology and environment, praised Huzhou's practices of driving the green transformation of traditional industries and creating a "carbon efficiency code". 

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, pointed out that making Huzhou an International Cooperation Demonstration Zone of Ecological Civilization will facilitate the implementation of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.