On September 16, Li Qiang, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, conducted on-site research on the organization of the 2022 World Design Cities Conference (WDCC). He reviewed the main exhibition themed "Vision in Perspective", which showcased design-driven urban innovation. Secretary Li emphasized that "design is ubiquitous in the city and permeates every aspect of life". It is imperative to thoroughly implement the guiding principles from General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches during his inspection in Shanghai, leverage world-class design to empower high-quality development, high-quality living, and high-efficiency governance, and provide design support for accelerating the building of Shanghai into a modern socialist international metropolis with global influence.
Held in Shanghai from September 15 to 18, the 2022 WDCC aimed to create a premier global platform for design collaboration. In the morning, Secretary Li visited the main venue at the China Shipbuilding Pavilion along the Huangpu River waterfront. He received briefings on conference organization, event arrangements, brand participation, and expert recommendations, engaging in-depth with representatives from participating institutions to gather insights on advancing Shanghai's development as a world-class UNESCO Creative City of Design .
Explore New Trends, Propose New Concepts, Promote New Practices, and Fully Integrate Design Concepts and Services into Urban Industrial Development, Spatial Environment, Public Services, People's Lives, and Urban Branding.
The main exhibition featured five sections: Design Industries, Urban Spaces, Public Services, Citizen Life, and Future Insights . Secretary Li examined exhibits detailing how design empowers industrial transformation, shapes urban spaces, optimizes public services, and enriches residents' lives. He underscored design's pivotal role in enhancing industrial core competitiveness, elevating urban soft power, and creating new developmental advantages. Aligned with Shanghai's vision of becoming a modern socialist international metropolis with global influence, he stressed the need to explore new trends, propose new concepts, and promote new practices, fully integrating design philosophies and services into urban industrial development, spatial environments, public services, residents' lives, and city branding .
Secretary Li highlighted the importance of leveraging design strengths to support independent and original design, fostering distinctive products and unique features to cultivate recognizable indigenous brands, and building a Shanghai creative design industry characterized by enhanced creativity, innovation, competitiveness, and influence. He advocated practicing the people-centered development philosophy by strengthening urban design to create vibrant public spaces that enhance urban warmth and charm. Addressing residents' aspirations for better living, he emphasized meticulously crafting "Road+" accessible blocks, "Park+" multifunctional green spaces, and "Life Circle+" convenient services—using design to continuously improve community functionality, improve quality and optimize the environment .
Municipal leaders Zhuge Yujie and Wu Qing participated in the research.