This year's World Cities Day Shanghai Forum opened on Monday, with the theme of urban culture and quality city, which is consistent with the goal of creating a city of humanity formulated in Shanghai's 2040 development plan.

During the two-day forum, renowned urban planning and designing experts from various major cities, including New York, Paris and Tokyo, have been invited to discuss urban development.

Xu Yisong, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Land Resources and Planning, introduced Shanghai's constant explorations in urban heritage conservation, local characteristics excavation, space quality improvement, and urban management innovation during the forum.

He said further cultural guidance and top-level design were needed in the new stage of development of the city.

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn