The BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Government Cooperation Forum is held in Kazan, Russia from Oct 19 to 20. [Photo/brics-russia2020.ru]

Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, shared its experiences in achieving its sustainable development goals during the COVID-19 pandemic online at the BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Government Cooperation Forum in Kazan, Russia on Oct 19.

Hangzhou representatives said that a combination of tactics have helped it control the spread of the virus and revive its economy and society, including launching a health code policy workable across China. It was among the first Chinese cities to resume work in early February, and realized a total output value of 738.8 billion yuan ($111 billion) in the first half of 2020, the eighth highest in China with a year-on-year increase of 1.5 percent.

City representatives also said Hangzhou is a leader in China's digital economy and intelligent development and is striving to improve its business environment.

"We invite everyone to Hangzhou to live, travel, or work," said one representative.

The online forum, one of the official events organized by the Russian BRICS chairmanship in 2020, attracted representatives from a total of 32 cities in BRICS countries, 21 of which are in China, as well as 10 international organizations.