The organization committee announces the shortlist at a news conference on Sept 28.[Photo/provided to China Daily]

The organizing committee of the second Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation held a daylong seminar yesterday for the jury to hear presentations from the 15 cities shortlisted for the award.

The final five will be announced Friday evening.

Three cities will also be awarded as the most popular among online respondents, for gaining the most media attention and for the level of public satisfaction.

Jointly founded by the city government of Guangzhou, the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments and the World Association of Major Metropolises, the biennial award encourages innovation in urban or regional sustainability in society, the economy and the environment, with major emphasis on effectiveness, ease in replication and significance.

"Human-oriented management and sustainable development of a city can never be separated from innovation," Chen Jianhua, mayor of Guangzhou and co-chairman of UCLG, said at the opening of the seminar Thursday.

"All 15 shortlisted city programs are exemplary, inspiring and worth modeling on.

"We believe the 15 finalists will make constructive contributions in such fields as the smart city, urban planning and management, civic participation, social services, disaster prevention and sustainable development."

zhanlisheng@chinadaily.com.cn