NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Ekaterinburg city will host the World Cities Day in October this year, a UN official announced on Tuesday.
Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the UN-Habitat executive director told delegates attending the first session of the UN-Habitat Assembly that the UN agency is looking forward to providing support to the city as they plan to host the event.
"The shifting of location from one part of the world is a welcome sign in view of the agency's universal membership following the recent governance reform leading to the first UN Habitat Assembly," Sharif said.
"The event will help stimulate development in Russian cities as it comes with lots of activities," Vladimir Yukushev, Russian minister of construction, housing and utility.
Yukushev said that the aim is to create comfortable urban environment for the citizens who continue to migrate to the cities from rural areas.
He thanked UN Habitat for supporting the Russian government since 2013 the development of the smart cities indicators.
Christine Musisi, UN Habitat head of external relations observed that the event is expected to lead to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"The UN cannot work in isolation especially in meeting the set SDGs targets by 2030," she added.
Musisi said that the world cities event targets city managers in helping them in transforming institutions for the betterment of the populations.
