NAIROBI, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The urgency to regenerate the world's cities facing multiple challenges and strain on basic amenities has been reinforced at the ongoing second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

An estimated 5,000 delegates from 193 UN member states including ministers, city mayors, urban planners, innovators, entrepreneurs and grassroots campaigners attended the five-day assembly that will conclude Friday.

Held against a backdrop of lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, global inflation and unfolding climate crises, the assembly has shone a spotlight on the role of cities in hastening the realization of the global sustainability agenda.

Maimunah Mohd Sharif, executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), said that cities, which currently host more than 50 percent of the global population, hold the key to a green, more inclusive and resilient future for humanity, subject to their constant renewal.

"The second United Nations Habitat assembly provides a platform for exploring new strategies to accelerate sustainable urbanization," Sharif said at a briefing Monday. "We expect delegates to adopt resolutions calling for speedy implementation of the new urban agenda that focuses on recovery, climate response, access to affordable housing and local financing."

According to Sharif, targeted financing, enactment of people-centric policies, community engagement and political goodwill will accelerate urban renewal and secure a green, resilient and prosperous future for the human race.

Sharif also said that infrastructure upgrade, a shift to green mobility, planned settlements and enhanced access to basic services will unlock cities' potential, and transform them into hubs of innovation and enterprise.

The second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, taking place amid eased COVID-19 restrictions globally, is themed" A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the sustainable development goals in times of global crises."

Some of the topics given prominence at the assembly include universal access to affordable housing, urban climate action, localization of Sustainable Development Goals, finance and urban crises recovery.

With more than 40 side events, high-level dialogues and an urban expo featuring more than 50 exhibitors, the assembly is expected to come up with a forward-looking blueprint for regenerating the world's metropolises in the near future.

Graced by Kenyan President William Ruto during the opening ceremony, the assembly has reinforced the crucial role of political commitment in helping accelerate the renewal of cities and towns. Ruto in his speech emphasized that fidelity to multilateralism, enhanced cooperation, peer learning and sustainable financing is crucial to the realization of urbanization that is green, resilient and inclusive.

The Chinese delegation to the assembly, led by Ni Hong, minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, participated in a series of side events that popularized knowledge sharing, technology transfer and partnerships in order to revitalize the sustainability agenda for cities.

The exhibitors at the urban expo included China's Tongji University, Kenya's envisioned technology city that has partnered with Huawei, and the operator of Chinese built Nairobi Expressway, Moja Express. These entities showcased innovative solutions that could be harnessed to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals for cities in line with the theme of the ongoing UN-Habitat Assembly.

Charting a new urban future that is prosperous, inclusive, resilient to climatic shocks and responsive to the needs of local citizens will be contained in a ministerial declaration that will be adopted at the end of the assembly Friday, said Rafael Tuts, director of UN-Habitat's Global Solutions Division.

According to Tuts, the declaration will renew the call for adequate financing, policy support and progressive leadership as a means to secure green, liveable and economically vibrant cities of the future. Enditem

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