The third UCLG Congress that was held in Mexico from 17th to 20th November 2010 saw the renewal of the Presidential team and of the governing bodies of the World Organisation. Founded in 2004, UCLG enters in a new period, with the election of Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul, as the new President of the World Organisation. Accompanying the Mayor of Istanbul, as Co-Presidents were elected Antonio Costa of Lisbon, Portugal; Johnny Araya of San Jose de Costa Rica; Wan Qingliang of Guangzhou, China; Muchadeyi Masunda of Harare, Zimbabwe: and Ilsur Metsin of Kazan, Russian Federation. Ted Ellis, Mayor of Bluffton, Indiana, USA, was ratified as Treasurer.
Mayor Topbas expressed the great honour that becoming the UCLG President represented for him and stressed the collegial character of the Presidency team as well as his commitment to work towards the enlargement of UCLG.
The City of Rabat, capital city of Morocco, was selected to host the next World Congress of UCLG in 2013.