As part of the pilot project on sustainable transportation, and to strengthen city-to-city technical exchanges and partnership-building, Mr. Álvaro Jordán Rifo, Specialist from the Department of Mobility and Transport of the Metropolitan Regional Government, and Mr. Luis Meza Moya, Director of the Planning and Regional Development Division of the Metropolitan Regional Government, conducted a field study visit to Hangzhou, China. The visit, which took place from 25 to 27 July 2023, aimed to enhance knowledge sharing on the digital transformation of public transport management system and integrated sustainable and low-carbon transportation development strategies. Key focus areas included insights from the Hangzhou Public Transport Group and related local technology enterprises.
The Hangzhou-Santiago City-to-City Experience and Technology Exchange Workshop was held on 26 July. Bringing together 13 key stakeholders, including the Cities Project team of UNOSSC, UNDP countries offices in China and Chile, the Innovation Center for Risk Governance of Beijing Normal University, Hangzhou Public Transport Group, Hangzhou DTWISDOM, and others, the workshop showcased a range of critical discussions.
Representatives from Santiago provided an in-depth overview of the Santiago 2050 Plan and development strategies, shedding light on the current status of public transportation in the Santiago Metropolitan Area. The challenges of air pollution, congestion, and inadequate access to public transport in rural areas were addressed, along with the need for a regional integrated management center and digital platforms.
Hangzhou Public Transport Group and DTWISDOM shared valuable insights, technology, and digital tools employed in the operation, management and development of public transportation system in Hangzhou. The Risk Governance Innovation Research Center of Beijing Normal University presented the outlook for constructing an intelligent and low-carbon transportation management system and a resilient city in Chile, based on thorough needs assessment and extensive research. In addition, two representatives from Santiago experienced various public transportation modalities of Hangzhou, including buses, subways, bicycles, and water buses.
Under the framework of UNOSSC’s Maritime and Continental Silk Road Cities for Sustainable Development Project (Cities Project), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China and Chile, in collaboration with pilot stakeholders from the Metropolitan Region of Government in Santiago (GORE), Beijing Normal University (BNU), as well as technical partners in the city of Hangzhou, launched a new pilot in December 2022. The pilot project aims to foster the development of sustainable low-carbon urban transport in the metropolitan region of Santiago through digital technology, capacity improvement, knowledge transfer and city-to-city exchanges between Hangzhou, China, and Santiago, Chile.
All key stakeholders expressed their satisfaction with the progress of the pilot project and reached a consensus on the implementation plan, ensuring seamless execution of the pilot outcomes and results. By leveraging South-South and triangular cooperation, this initiative is poised to drive significant positive change and lead the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago.