Two cities in China - Quanzhou, Fujian province and Wuxi, Jiangsu province - have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as "City of Gastronomy" and "City of Music", respectively.

To date, the number of Chinese cities in the Network has reached 20, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, to name a few.

A total of 58 cities joined the Network this year, recognized for their strong commitment to championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development, and their active participation in cultural life.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network, an important initiative launched by UNESCO, is one of three global flagship cultural programs, alongside those dedicated to World Heritage conservation and Intangible Cultural Heritage safeguarding.

Covering eight creative fields, the Network designates new members every two years through a rigorous process, including recommendation at the national level and review at the international level.