In today’s interconnected world, culture's power to transform societies is clear. Its diverse manifestations – from our cherished historic monuments and museums to traditional practices and contemporary art forms – enrich our everyday lives in countless ways. Heritage constitutes a source of identity and cohesion for communities disrupted by bewildering change and economic instability. Creativity contributes to building open, inclusive and pluralistic societies. Both heritage and creativity lay the foundations for vibrant, innovative and prosperous knowledge societies.
Culture is who we are and what shapes our identity. No development can be sustainable without including culture. UNESCO ensures that the role of culture is recognized through a majority of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those focusing on quality education, sustainable cities, the environment, economic growth, sustainable consumption and production patterns, peaceful and inclusive societies, gender equality and food security. UNESCO is convinced that no development can be sustainable without a strong culture component.
To ensure that culture takes it rightful place in development strategies and processes, UNESCO has adopted a three-pronged approach: it spearheads worldwide advocacy for culture and development, while engaging with the international community to set clear policies and legal frameworks and working on the ground to support governments and local stakeholders to safeguard heritage, strengthen creative industries and encourage cultural pluralism.
To ensure that culture takes it rightful place in development strategies and processes, UNESCO has adopted a three-pronged approach: it spearheads worldwide advocacy for culture and development, while engaging with the international community to set clear policies and legal frameworks and working on the ground to support governments and local stakeholders to safeguard heritage, strengthen creative industries and encourage cultural pluralism.
Today, creativity is emerging as one of the most promising avenues for changing how we see cities. Whether by revitalizing the local economy, rethinking transport or housing policies, reclaiming urban spaces, or opening up new horizons for young people, creativity is one of the driving forces behind urban policies and initiatives. Cities worldwide are focusing their attention on the cultural and creative industries as an inspiration for their future. This vision is promoted by elected representatives and city policy-makers, who see it as a strategic lever for innovation when it comes to tackling contemporary urban issues, whether on an economic, social or environmental front. More importantly, however, it is a vision shared by professionals and citizens, who are taking action in their own neighborhoods and communities to build more sustainable and more human cities.
This vision of creative urban governance is the driving force behind the UNESCO Creative Cities Programme and Network(联合国教科文组织创意城市网络). Since its creation in 2004, the Network has established itself as a strategic platform for promoting and sharing this new approach to sustainable cities. Through its standard-setting and operational actions, UNESCO has paved the way for demonstrating the essential role of creativity in urban sustainability, assisting national and local authorities and advocating this vision at an international level.
Culture and creativity play a key role in sustainable urban development. They contribute to diversifying the economy and generating jobs but they also enhance the quality of life of citizens by participating to a city’s social structure and cultural diversity.
汉译英：
作为中国浙江省省会，杭州是中国历史文化名城。距今约5300年的“良诸文化”遗址(位于杭州余杭区)是文明发祥地之一。
杭州素以美丽的山水著称。中国古代有句谚语，“上有天堂，下有苏杭”，表达了古往今来人们对这座美丽城市的由衷喜爱。
西湖位于杭州市西南方,以其秀丽的湖光山色和众多的名胜古迹而成为闻名中外的旅游胜地。2011年被正式列入《世界遗产名录》。此外，气势浩荡的钱江大潮，每年吸引无数游客。
杭州拥有丰富的历史文化遗迹。南起杭州、北到北京的京杭大运河始建于1631年，全长约1797公里，是世界上最长、最古老的人工水道。2014年6月22日，京杭大运河正式列入《世界遗产名录》。
在世界，杭州颇具名声。早在 13 世纪，意大利著 名旅行家马可波罗赞杭州为“世界上最美丽之城”。杭州曾被美国《纽约时报》评为“2011年全球最值得去的41个地方”，还被联合国环境规划署评为“国际花园城市”。
杭州还曾在中美建交过程中扮演过重要角色。2015年1月，中国提出“旅游外交”政策。杭州作为著 名旅游城市，又率先实施“旅游外交”。
