On October 12, 2018, the main session of the 2018 World Canal Cities Forum was held in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China. With the theme of "Protection, Inheritance and Usage of the World Canal City Culture," the Forum showcased the outstanding achievements of the Grand Canal Cultural Belt in Jiangsu Province and highlighted the exemplary role Jiangsu Province has played in the development of Grand Canal culture.
The World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO) concentrated its efforts at the Forum on pushing forward the cooperation on the world's canal cities project, sharing experience in the development of canal culture, and facilitating economic exchanges between canal cities for more mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation. The main session was addressed by important leaders and distinguished guests who put forward valuable suggestions and views on the development of the world's canal cities.