Everywhere in the world, I have witnessed how those who live in cities convert despair into hope and improve their lives through collective inventiveness and effort.
Cities are crucibles of development.
By the early 21st century most of the world's population will live in urban areas - a predicted 60 per cent by the year 2020. Since 1950, the urban population of developing countries has grown from under 300 million to over 1.7 billion, and this figure is likely to double in the next 25 years. In cities, diverse ethnic, religious and occupational groups are pressed into close proximity, and must decide how they will live together. It seems inevitable that cities are where the key issues that determine national change will be decided. Nothing is preordained.