The World Design Cities Conference is held in Shanghai from Sept 26 to Oct 2. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

From the latest automobile types to innovative materials to technologies and new solutions for the long-term management of cancer patients, the World Design Cities Conference in Shanghai is showcasing the latest trends in the global design community from Sept 26 to Oct 2.

The conference is being held in the 20,000-square-meter main exhibition hall at No. 68 Longhua Road East in Huangpu district. More than 300 enterprises from around the world are attending the major event.

Themed "Design Beyond Creativity", this year's conference is hosted by the Shanghai municipality and supported by UNESCO and the National Commission of China for UNESCO.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said at the opening of the conference on Sept 26 that design is an important engine for urban development and one of the core competitive strengths of a cosmopolitan metropolis.

"We will prioritize the development of the design industries and enhance the concentration of creative elements, fully unleash the potential of innovation, facilitate new creative achievements and turn Shanghai into a world design hub," he said.

During the round-table discussions themed "Future Industries and Cities", leading scholars shared their insights into urban planning for the future.

Huang Zhen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that the key element needed in the transition to green energy is to reduce carbon usage in electricity and fuel sectors.

"We have to achieve fundamental changes in energy composition and make sure recycle energy takes up 85 percent of the total volume in 2060," he said. "I believe this will bring subversive changes to the development path toward green energies."