Listen to public opinion and help grassroots and citizens solve practical problems they encountered. If you have any complaints, just call the “12345” hotline, every issue raised on the phone will be answered and solved very soon in a responsible manner by local governments.

China’s “12345” hotline is a model for cities worldwide, Shahbaz Khan, director at the UNESCO East Asia office, told CGTN at the 2024 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints. He highlighted the importance of learning from the Global South and finding solutions tailored to their needs for shared prosperity.