The Second International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages opens in Songyang county on Oct 18. [Photo/WeChat account: zgsynews]

The Second International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages, with its theme of "Integrating Health and Territorial Development for Sustainable Livelihoods", opened in Songyang county – administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – on Oct 18.

The three-day forum was co-hosted and co-organized by UN-Habitat, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Health Commission of Zhejiang Province, the Lishui municipal government and the Songyang county administration.

The event was attended by over 300 participants from 44 countries and 19 international organizations.

Urban-rural links are seen as being increasingly important to successful interventions for nature-based solutions. These can build resilience to climate change, protect biodiversity, strengthen food systems, restore ecosystems and reduce risk from disasters and other shocks.

The story of Songyang's rural revitalization, in the context of urbanization, is said to provide invaluable lessons and inspiration to rural areas in other parts of the world. It's been said that innovative sustainable development initiatives have the potential to improve rural areas, strengthen urban-rural links and contribute to the overall development and prosperity of human settlements.

During the forum, participants visited typical traditional villages in Songyang and investigated handicrafts, the protection of villages as a way of life, cultural and tourism integration and the upgrade of residential accommodation.