A UN official addresses the First International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages in Songyang county, Lishui, Zhejiang province on Nov 11. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

The First International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages opened in Songyang county, Lishui, Zhejiang province on Nov 11.

The forum, hosted by the UN-Habitat, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Lishui Municipal People's Government, is being attended by more than 200 officials, academics and scholars from 17 countries and 18 international organizations.

Guests will discuss how to bring about rural revitalization through the rediscovery of the inherent value of rural areas and the revitalization of rural industries. The forum hopes to find solutions to problems hindering the sustainable development of both urban and rural areas around the world. 

"The key to rural revitalization is to take advantage of the innate value found in rural areas, in terms of economy, ecology, culture, life and governance," said Zhang Yi, deputy director of the provincial department of housing and urban-rural development at the opening ceremony.

Songyang's development practices will also be discussed in hopes of sparking new ideas about how to bring about revitalize rural areas, and field trips to the county have also been organized, during which guests will be invited to share their thoughts about the infrastructure, tourism, industries, culture, heritage and economy.

International visitors plant trees symbolizing friendship with local people in Songyang county, Lishui, Zhejiang province on Nov 11. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

Zhang added that he hopes the guests will tell more stories about Songyang to the rest of the world.

The forum will last until Nov 14.