We, participants and friends from all reaches of the globe, drawn by the theme "Better City, Better Life," have gathered in Shanghai and jointly fashioned the first World Expo in a developing country organized under the auspices of the Bureau International des Expositions. During these 184 days, we have explored, envisioned and simulated the mosaic of urban life through the wonderful exhibitions of the pavilions, the instructive showcases of urban best practices, the in-depth intellectual exchanges in the forums and the brilliant cultural events.

We have come to realize that people's understanding and pursuit of a better life are both the foundations and the engines of urban development.

We are also convinced that it is necessary to re-examine the relationship between people, cities and our planet.

We agree that, in tackling the challenges of urban development, innovation offers solutions and the concept of "Cities of Harmony" embodies our dreams.

At present, with more than half of humankind living in cities, our planet has entered the urban age. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have offered to humanity the abundant fruits of modern civilization, but at the same time they have brought unprecedented challenges. Population explosion, traffic congestion, environmental pollution, resource shortages, urban poverty and cultural conflicts are becoming urban problems with a global scope. For historical and current reasons, these phenomena are especially prominent in many developing countries. The Shanghai Expo responded to the times by selecting cities as its theme. It also introduced the first-ever Urban Best Practices Area and Virtual Expo to pursue a ground-breaking exploration of the possible solutions to the common dilemmas faced by humankind.

Today, as this grand gathering comes to a close, we sing high praise for the important value of the World Expo as a platform to confront these challenges and as a vehicle for dynamic exchange and interaction between civilizations. We enthusiastically issue this Shanghai Declaration as a summary of the substantive achievements of the Shanghai Expo and an expression of the shared aspirations of people around the world for a "Better City, Better Life."

We aspire to build cities that establish harmony between diverse people, between development and environment, between cultural legacies and future innovations. A City of Harmony reveals itself when people are in harmony with nature, society, and themselves, and when there is also harmony between generations.

To this end, we join together in proposing:

To Establish an Ecological Civilization Oriented toward the Future

Cities should respect nature, consider the urban ecological environment as an asset, integrate environmental issues into urban planning and administration, and accelerate the transition to sustainable development. They should promote the use of renewable energy sources and build low-carbon eco-cities. They should strongly advocate for conservation of resources and promote environment-friendly manufacturing. Cities and their citizens should join together to create sustainable lifestyles and an ecological civilization in which people and environment co-exist in harmony.

To Pursue Inclusive and Balanced Growth

Cities should balance economic growth and social development; seek to achieve an optimal relationship between social equity and economic efficiency; strive to create an institutional environment of shared rights and interests, equal opportunity, and fair competition; and work to reduce inequities in income. They should enable all residents to share the fruits of urban development and fully realize their personal growth.