The regional and metropolitan planning unit at UN-Habitat organized a webinar on urban and rural connections during the COVID-19 pandemic on May 4. Songyang county in Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province, attended the webinar as China's only participant.

During the fight against COVID-19, Songyang established a centralized and efficient command system in the first place, and strictly implemented the prevention and control requirements of "early detection, early reporting, early quarantine and early treatment".

While making unrelenting prevention and control efforts, Songyang steadily promoted the resumption of work and production. At present, all public places in the county, except cinemas and KTVs, have opened in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, Songyang turned the crisis into an opportunity to promote the transformation and upgrading of the county's economy. This year, the tea merchants' conference, which has been held offline for 12 years, was moved online, which effectively promoted the transformation of the tea industry against the established trend.

Remy Sietchiping, unit leader of the regional and metropolitan planning unit at UN-Habitat, said that the practical experience of COVID-19 prevention and control shared by Songyang is of great significance to other countries and regions.

The county is a highly open and inclusive place. UN-Habitat looks forward to further cooperation with Songyang, according to Sietchiping.