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The World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization in Yangzhou, a city with a history of over 2,500 years in Jiangsu province. [Photo/IC]
Zheng Haitao, the president of the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization, delivered his 2026 Spring Festival message on Chinese New Year's Eve. The following is the full text of the message:
Greetings to all! As canals link cities, great fortune can be shared far and wide. As Chinese New Year approaches, I, on behalf of the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO), would like to extend my sincere greetings and best wishes to those who have always cared for and supported us — our global members, partners, and counterparts from all walks of life.
Looking back on 2025, it was a year of fruitful collaboration between WCCO and canal cities worldwide. This year, adhering to our mission of "Empowering Urban Development through Canals and Promoting Mutual Learning among Civilizations through Cooperation", we have demonstrated responsibility through pragmatic actions and delivered results through dedicated efforts. Behind each achievement is the collective wisdom and concerted efforts of all parties, further showcasing that canals, as bonds between civilizations, can transcend geographical barriers and allow us to advance towards the future.
Cultural Heritage Bridges Past and Present, Ancient Charm Opens New Chapter.
In 2025, we hosted the World Canal Cities Forum under the theme "Canals · Culture · Tourism" and released the Initiative on Tourism Development of World Canal Cities in Yangzhou. We advanced the first overseas implementation of cooperation mechanisms for ancient canal towns and boutique scenic areas in the Netherlands, achieving cross-border scenic spots collaboration and core industry integration. In collaboration with the China Cultural Center in Brussels, Belgium, we organized the "A Moonmoment to Remember" — 2025 China-Belgium Canal Cities Dialogue, enabling canal cultures to shine through cross-regional exchanges. Delving into history and breathing new life into culture, WCCO has been dedicated to sketching a blueprint for the sustainable development of world canal cities.
Green Development Pathways Unite Us, High-Quality Growth Illuminates the Future.
With ecology as our bedrock, we attended the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where, for the first time as an observer organization, we hosted a side event with the theme "Low-carbon Development and Resilient Infrastructure of Canal Cities". We held thematic exhibitions titled "Smart City, Green Energy, Climate Future — Green Collaboration to Address Climate Change" in Brazil, Panama, and other places. We forged a partnership with the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI). We participated in the World Canals Conference 2025 in the United States, conducting in-depth dialogues with international institutions such as the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Practicing green development and safeguarding canal ecosystems, WCCO has been committed to exploring a global path of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.
Digital Connectivity Links China with the World, Win-Win Cooperation Enters New Chapter.
Drawing on digital capabilities, we have iterated and upgraded the Digital Canal Platform, exploring innovative applications in areas like cultural and tourism integration, smart hydrology, and ecological restoration. We signed a smart city cooperation agreement with ChinaEU, further expanding the digital cooperation network for international canals. Together with Yangzhou University and multiple foreign universities, we launched the Canal-city University Cooperation Mechanism (CUCM) to promote the global reach of canal cultures and the sharing of global governance insights. By building collaborative platforms and deepening practical cooperation, WCCO has been endeavoring to establish an open, inclusive, mutually beneficial, and win-win cooperation system for canal cities worldwide.
Canals are flowing epics of transformation, arteries of connection, and, above all, waterways where prosperity is shared. In 2026, WCCO is willing to continue walking hand-in-hand with canal cities across the globe. We will deepen our cultural roots, expand cooperation, and develop new systems of collaboration, jointly charting a magnificent blueprint for the sustainable development of canals and contributing our wisdom and strength to building a community of world canal cities.
We sincerely wish everyone a joyous Spring Festival, good health, a happy family, and success in all your endeavors!
