About the Forum

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Urbanization processes shape large areas of the world, while the revitalization of rural regions has been neglected for a long time. Nevertheless, cities and villages are indispensable for the sustainable development of mankind. With the advent of ecological civilization, people began to re-examine the significance of villages and appreciate more idyllic scenery, poetic landscapes, vernacular culture, and folk customs. As a result, a laid-back country life where people live in harmony with nature catches on. The new era arrives with a new mandate, i.e. to accelerate rural revitalization and allow villages and cities to share the achievements of modern civilization in sync, which not only relieves “big city urban diseases” to a certain extent but more importantly provides a new way of thinking for sustainable urban and rural development around the world from the perspective of a community of shared future for mankind.

Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) promotes sustainable cities and communities including rural areas, and support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, per-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning (Indicator 11a). Member States of the United Nations commit to the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and promote sustainable development in both urban and rural areas. As the United Nations focal agency for human settlements comprising the urban-rural continuum, UN-Habitat is mandated to foster the implementation of SDG11 and NUA by strengthening Urban Rural Linkages (URLs). More on Urban-Rural Linkages work by UN-Habitat can be found at https://urbanpolicyplatform.org/urban-rural-linkages/. Besides, UN-Habitat proactively respond to the ongoing United Nations’ reform through innovation and open itself to bold new tools, technologies and ideas on sustainable urban and rural development.

In recent years, Songyang has been putting rural development in the context of urban-rural integration by focusing on culture and architecture and implementing the “architectural acupuncture” strategy to systematically promote economic and social restructuring in rural areas. It actively explores a road of rural revitalization built on culture and has achieved favourable results. United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) invited the People’s Government of Songyang County to the first UN-Habitat Assembly. The two sides signed a Letter of Intent the basic on which they are co-organizing the First International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages at Songyang County China.

Speakers

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All

Welcome

Keynote

Mr. Wang Jun - Secretary of the CPC Songyang County Committee

Wang Jun is implementing the “Two Mountains” Theory and exploring the county practice of ecological conservation. Guided by the concept of the “live protection and organic development”, under the great effort, a group of dying traditional villages in Songyang County have been revitalized, among which 75 villages are in the list of National Traditional Villages. Now, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the P.R.C. has named Songyang an exemplary county under the Conservation and Development Project of Traditional Villages in China. Songyang has also been chosen by the National Cultural Relics Administration as a pilot area for the National Traditional Village Protection and Utilization Project, and by the China Foundation for Culture Heritage Conservation as a pilot county of the “Save the Old Houses Initiative”.

Mr. Li Xiaojie - Chairman of China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation

Mr. Li Xiaojie is the chairman of China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation

Mrs. Arantza Leturiondo - Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Environment, Land Planning and Housing of the Basque Government. Basque Region. SPAIN

She is a lawyer, civil servant and her career has been focused on public management and governance with different roles and responsibilities on land planning, urbanism and environment at both local and regional level. She was Vice Ministry of Environment (2011-2013), in the Basque Government. The Sub-Department she leads is focused on the design of a territorial planning which will let us to live and enjoy in affordable cities, towns and villages, more pleasant, healthy and attractive, as well as approaching job to residence, provide an environment better care and more accessible for all citizens. Improving our employment and housing opportunities and having a more effective and integrated infrastructures are other objectives and challenges.

MARÍA MAGDALENA RUIZ MEJIA - Mexican Subnational Environmental Authority Association, ANAAE, AC

Biologist from University of Guadalajara, and is currently studying a Master´s in Philosophy and Social Studies at the Jesuit University of Guadalajara. She was the Secretary of Environmental and Territorial Development of the Mexican state of Jalisco from 2013 to 2018. Likewise, she was the Secretary of Environment and Ecology of the municipality of Guadalajara from 2010 to 2012. She was also the adviser for the Guadalajara´s municipality Culture and Environmental Comission from 2007 to 2009. Throughout the1992-2006 period, she worked at Mexico´s second largest public university, UdeG, and ITESO, as faculty, researcher and lecturer, for strategic programs regarding conservation, environmental education, as well as conflict management. She was recently named executive CEO for the Mexican Subnational Environmental Authority Association (ANAAE, AC)

Dr. Abdul Husaini

Dr. Abdul Husaini was the pioneer General Manager of Niger State Geographic Information System (NIGIS) (www.nigisservices.com) where he designed and implemented the reorganization of the Land Record management process of the state. His major contribution to human settlement sector include recognition and involvement of the local communities in planning, he prepared the first ever basic urban services information index for two of the major cities of Minna and Suleja where all the major urban activity areas were identified and mapped. Some of his major community service includes the acknowledgment of Minna as one of the Regional Centres of Expertise (RCE) on ESD (www.rceminna.com.ng) and the securing of funding from German International Cooperation (GIZ) to conduct a study on the state of planning on the fringes of Minna, using Gidan Kwanu. He is presently the Team Leader of the 265.46 Hecters Jhukhuci-Shata Residential Development (JRD) Plan, a new neighbourhood on the fringes of Minna conceived to control the unplanned expansion of Minna

Dr. Florence Egal

Ahmad ELATRASH - Sr. Urban Programme Officer, UN-Habitat

Prof. Dominic Byarugaba - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

Professor Byarugaba is a distinguished scholar and Executive Director African Institute for Capacity Development. His interests in natural environments stem from his works at the prestigious Institute for Tropical Forest Conservation, Bwindi the home of Mountain Gorillas in South Western Uganda. His wide exposure gives him a planning scope with hands on experiences of modern well- designed environments. Prof. Byarugaba holds a BSc, MSc in and PhD. He has special interest and attachment to greening and multipurpose plant species having worked with WWF/UNESCO/Kew Gardens Initiative as Local Coordinator for Africa from 1997-2007 that promoted indigenous useful plant species for development in Africa for both medicinal and beautification of environments. Presently Byarugaba is an ardent advocate of replenished environments at the smallest unit of life with a view to breed unified expansion for humanity’s survival. Prof. Byarugaba consults for National Geographic on natural beauty, UNESCO, WWF, UNDP, WB Inc. and USAID.

Mr.Sangho Jun - Information and Statistical Policy Div.,Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korea

He conducts research on spatial information and cadastral systems, technology development, standardization and education projects, introduction of foreign technologies on spatial information and cadastral systems, international exchange, cooperation and overseas projects, cadastral surveying, cadastral reinvestigation projects, etc. .

Mr. Vicente Ruiz - Economist,OECD Development Centre

Vicente Ruiz is an economist working for the OECD Development Centre. Vicente supports national and sub-national authorities through economic analysis and policy recommendations in order to enhance the effectiveness of territorial development strategies. His worked has focused on improving the design and coherence of both urban and rural policy in OECD countries, as well as in developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin America. Before joining the OECD, Vicente worked as an econometrician for the Mexican Ministry of Environment where he addressed issues related pollution control mechanisms in the manufacturing sector and water management. Vicente holds a master degree in environmental economics and a master degree in econometrics and statistics from the Toulouse School of Economics, as well as a PhD in economics from the Paris School of Economics.

Mr. Vincent Nji Ndumu

Mr. Vincent Nji Ndumu is the Government Delegate (Grand Mayor) to the City of Bamenda in the North West Region of Cameroon since February 2009 to present. He is a Civil Engineer by training with an M.Sc. (1990) in Construction Project Management from the University of Manchester, UMIST in England, and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (1985) from the Amadu Bello University in Nigeria. Before his present position he earlier served as Deputy Director at the Ministry of Public Works and also Technical Adviser to the Minister of Public Works in Cameroon. Presently, as Grand Mayor for the city of Bamenda, he plays a major role initiating and coordinating urban development policies and strategies where impact has been realized breaching the urban rural linkage gap.

Remy Sietchiping

Rafael Bernardo López Ochoa - Secretary of Planning and Territorial Planning – Town hall Florencia

I was born on June 24, 1986 in the municipality of Florence - Caquetá-Colombia, civil engineering professional, specialist in road engineering. I have a professional experience of 11 and a half years, where I have worked in the public and private sector, always with a high degree of responsibility, ethics and loyalty to the institution for which I work. In the private sector, I have worked as a resident engineer, study and design coordinator, construction coordinator, road specialist, deputy director in concessions. In the public sector, I worked with the National Roads Institute as a technical contract manager and currently I work as a municipal planning secretary. I have always liked to learn and know new things that feed me both personally and professionally.

Ms. Anurima Mukherjee Basu

Anurima teaches at the Faculty of Planning at CEPT University, Ahmedabad since 2010. She has over 17 years of experience in teaching, research, consulting and advisory roles. Her research interests are related to Urban Governance, Rural-Urban Linkages and Public Finance. She has been part of research and consulting teams working on local governance & finance and issues of equity and access in Indian cities.

Ms. Kyungja Son - Senior Deputy director, The Information and Statistical policy div. of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korea

KYUNGJA SON is Senior Deputy director of the Information and Statistical policy div. of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korea. She is in charge of planning and implementing informatization of agriculture. She manages building Big Data platform which aims to collect the Agri-Data and analyze the value and then produce the insight of the future agriculture.

David Suttie - Global Engagement Specialist, IFAD

David Suttie is responsible for engaging in global policy processes, advocating for key rural dimensions and stakeholders – including smallholder farmers, rural youth, rural women – in the context of international policy debates and outcomes. He also produces policy products to share IFAD's experience and knowledge on inclusive rural transformation with a global audience.

Manohar Velpuri - Partner, United Nations and Innovation networks

Manohar velpuri is currently an institutional partner to united nations networks and has been actively working in projects related to Urban rural linkages and other conventions in the UN system. Actively involved in developing ecosystems related to Disruptive technologies and Innovative technologies - alongside to designing plans for Cybersecurity and National Security master plan.

Mr. Panagiotis Karfakis - Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization

Panagiotis Karfakis is an Economist that joined FAO in 2003. He has worked ever since on structural transformation, agriculture and food systems’ transition, poverty and vulnerability analysis, social and economic impacts of climate change, in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He represents FAO on a number of working groups in the intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder Committee on World Food Security (CFS).

Mr. Rafic Khouri - Senior consultant for GLTN for Land Governance in Arab States

PhD in development economics from Sorbonne University. For 15 years in charge of the Order of French Surveyors’ European and international relations. Major actor of the creation of the Federation of Francophone Surveyors. One of the three principal authors of the GLTN book: “Women and land in the Muslim World”. Currently, advisor to the president of the Arab Union of Surveyors for international relations.

Thierry Giordano - Deputy Director, Impact and marketing of Science Directorate, Cirad

Thierry Giordano is Deputy Director, Impact and Marketing of Science Directorate at CIRAD. From 2016 to 2018, he was a Decentralized Cooperation Advisor within the Partnership Division of FAO, supporting the development of collaborations between FAO, local governments, and local government networks on food systems. From 2012 to 2015, he was a senior researcher at Cirad (French Research Institute on Agricultural Development), where he participated in the drafting of the OECD/UNDP/BAD flagship African Economic Outlook 2015.

Ibrahima Camara - Director of National Direction of Urban and Territorial Planning, Ministry of City and Territorial Planning

I’m a Civil Engineer in Bridge Construction, Urban Planning and Urban Studies from the Polytechnic Institute of the University of Conakry in 1996. I also hold a post-graduate certificate on Integrated Urban Planning from Sweden and India where I focus my research project on “Restructuring Informal settlements in Guinea”. Since 2011, I had been the National Director of Urban and Territorial Planning of Ministry of City and Territorial Planning of Guinea.

Santiago Satizábal - Rimisp – Latin American Centre for Rural Development

Researcher at Rimisp-Latin American Center for Rural Development, Bogotá, Colombia. Holds a B.A and M.A in Economics from Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. He has research experience in development economics, urban studies, economic geography, territorial development and local institutions. Previously worked as research assistant at Fedesarrollo (Colombia). Most recent research focuses on developing quantitative methods for the identification of functional territories, the analysis of labor markets in rural-urban territories, and evaluation of policymaking processes.

Mrs. FOUDA OWOUNDI Anne Marguerite - Head of the Studies, Planning and Cooperation Division Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

Mrs. Fouda is a Cameroonian Town Planner and designer, also Teacher. As an expert in urban planning, urban development policies and strategies, Mrs. Anne Marguerite FOUDA has participated in the editing and monitoring of all urban planning projects in Cameroon since 2000. For two years, between 2007 and 2009, She was a member of the team of experts in charge of the drafting of the Cameroon Vision 2035, the Strategy Document for Growth and Employment (SDGE) and the Urban Sub-Sector Development Strategy. While assuming her responsibilities as Head of the Studies, Planning and Cooperation Division in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, she participated and follow-up numerous projects among which the elaboration of the National Development Master Plan and the Sustainable Development of the territory, the National Zoning Plan, National Urban Policy, National Housing Policy of Habitat. She is the focal point for the Urban Rural Linkages project in Cameroon.

Eulalia MORENO - General Director of Urban and Territorial Planning; Regional Government of Extremadura, Spain

Eulalia MORENO, General Director of Urban and Territorial Planning; Regional Government of Extremadura, Spain Ms. Moreno is an architect by the ETSA of Seville, Spain with a postgraduate in theory and practice of architectural and urban rehabilitation with specialized training in environmental and urban law. For the last 20 years, she has exercised her career in different fields; the private profession with her architecture studio, in the local administration since 2002 as director of the urban planning office of the community of Gata, and as manager of the urban planning offices of Extremadura from 2008 to 2011.

Tuyen Thi Thanh Huynh - Country Coordinator of Agriculture for Nutrition and Health Program International Center for Tropical Agriculture

Ms. Tuyen Huynh is a CIAT staff working on Sustainable Food Systems in Asia and works as a Country Coordinator of CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) based in Vietnam, where she leads activities of the cross-center A4NH program in its support of the national government and international agencies and movements in building sustainable food systems (SFS) at national level and also along the rural-urban transect by ensuring the production, delivery and use of healthy food that ultimately provides economic, social and nutritional benefits to all consumers while minimizing the environmental footprint.

Inge Roecker - Principal at AIRstudio, (Architecture Inge Roecker)

Dunya Bouchi - Managing Director, ANCB The Aedes Metropolitan Laboratory

Dunya Bouchi is the Managing Director of ANCB The Aedes Metropolitan Laboratory in Berlin, a cultural and educational platform focusing on the future of our cities, which maintains an intensive exchange with the Chinese built environment, urban culture and rural development. Before joining ANCB in 2010, Dunya was a consultant with GIZ in Damascus on sustainable urban development strategies for Syria. Previously, she worked on city centre revitalisation of small- and medium-sized East German towns on behalf of the German government. Dunya holds an M.A. in History, Political Science and Communication Studies from Freie Universität Berlin und has lived, studied and researched in Paris and London.

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Venue

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Songyang County  is a county in the southwest of Zhejiang province, China under the administration of the Lishui city. Songyang County is located in the mountains of southwest Zhejiang and has over 1800 years of history. It is a famous city of provincial history as it was the economic center of Chuzhou (today’s Lishui). It has many historical relics, including the domestically and internationally famous Yanqing Temple Pagoda.