On January 30, at the venue of the 10th Shenzhen-Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture, the “Shenzhen Urban Index Agenda (UIS)” was launched globally. Jointly developed by institutions including the Liaowang Institute under Xinhua News Agency, it aims to share with the world Shenzhen’s urban development experience gained over 45 years of rapid growth, in order to address global urbanization challenges. The agenda has received intellectual support from international authoritative organizations such as UN-Habitat and Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities.
Unlike traditional ranking-focused indices, UIS is centered on a “people-oriented” philosophy, focusing on “what kind of future a city is moving towards” and “how it can progress toward a better future.” Its constructed “6+19+50+X” indicator framework encompasses six core value dimensions, 19 secondary dimensions, 50 specific indicators, and an open-ended ‘X’ category for future expansion and iteration. Additionally, it includes a suite of components such as the agenda framework, the “Three Wisdoms of People-Orientation” methodology, case studies, and dialogue platforms, effectively bridging macro-level concepts with actionable measures.
Shan Liang, Director of the Shenzhen Urban Planning & Land Resource Research Centre, likened UIS to a “three-piece navigation system kit” for urban development, which integrates the functions of reviewing the past, assessing the present, and planning for the future. Experts both domestically and internationally widely recognize that UIS provides a replicable and referable Eastern model for global urban governance, holding significant reference value especially for rapidly urbanizing regions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
It is reported that UIS was pre-released on occasions such as the 2025 China Marine Economy Expo, where it attracted considerable attention. Subsequently, efforts will be made to further refine its indicator system and deepen global cooperation. UIS is scheduled to be presented at the UN World Urban Forum in May 2026, with its index results to be released at the World Cities Summit in June. Leveraging the opportunity of the APEC China Year, it aims to provide intellectual support for global urban cooperation and sustainable development.
Company: Xinhua News Agency Liaowang Institute
Contact: Zhong Guowu
Email: [email protected]
