The Hague mayor highlights close co-operation with Qatari cities in sustainable development

Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, has underlined that both Qatari cities and The Hague benefit from closer co-operation to global challenges in the field of sustainable development.

In a statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), he said that local governments need co-operation to find innovative solutions towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, for example, via international networks such as the world's biggest organisation of local governments – the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

"In my capacity as the executive president of the UCLG, I invite Qatari cities to join the UCLG and its World Council that takes place in The Hague this October," van Zanen said.

He added that being the mayor of The Hague – the International City of Peace and Justice – is a big responsibility, as it is a host city to many international courts, tribunals and other organisations.

Van Zanen noted the emphasis on providing a healthy, safe, welcoming and favourable working environment for some 500 organisations and 20,000 people working on peace and justice daily.

This ecosystem of peace and justice, he said, is a strong economic driver in the city.

Moreover, it has significant value and impact as we connect global challenges to local solutions and vice versa, the mayor added.

He noted that The Hague is largest city in the Netherlands facing the North Sea, and the greenest city in Europe.

It stands for space, green and a high-quality selection of art and culture, most notably the Mauritshuis which hosts Vermeer's famous *Girl with the Pearl Earring, the Kunstmuseum Den Haag, Museum Voorlinden, Escher in the Palace, and the Prison Gate Museum.

Known worldwide as the city of Peace and Justice, van Zanen said, The Hague is the city where talented people are working on innovations towards building a better, safer and more just world.

He noted that the city has the best value for companies in the fields of new energy, finance, legal and policy, technology, impact economy and cybersecurity industries.