Shenzhen launches UIS at WCS2026

The Urban Index of Shenzhen (UIS) made its debut in Singapore at the 10th World Cities Summit (WCS2026), held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Center on Sunday. 

Shenzhen's pavilion at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Center. Photos from Dute News

The index first debuted globally at the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan last month.

Developed as a multidimensional assessment tool, the UIS aims to redefine urban development evaluation. It moves beyond conventional metrics, grounding itself in a nature-friendly and people-centered philosophy. The framework is built upon six core values: innovation, livability, beauty, resilience, civilization, and intelligence. These dimensions encapsulate China’s urban vision, Shenzhen’s developmental experience, and a growing consensus among global metropolises.

Singapore's PM Lawrence Wong and other officials watch robots perform a lion dance at the Shenzhen pavilion.

Shenzhen's exhibition area is structured into three distinct zones: the UIS showcase area, a smart city demonstration zone, and an interactive robotics theater. Highlighting Shenzhen’s technological prowess, local tech firm AlphaSpaceX presented its latest line of embodied intelligence robots.

Lawrence Wong shares on social media about his visit to the Shenzhen pavilion.

The launch comes on the heels of the July 2025 Central Urban Work Conference, which charted a new course for urbanization with Chinese characteristics — calling for the building of modern, people-centric cities defined by innovation, livability, beauty, resilience, cultural advancement, and smart governance. 

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, along with other senior officials, toured the exhibition. The delegation received briefings on the Shenzhen experience from city representatives and expressed high regard for the city’s governance model and the strategic value of the UIS.