The Global Mayors Dialogue · Wuhan and the 2026 Wuhan International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference, held from Sept. 18 to 21, convened 80 international guests from 24 cities across 22 countries, according to organizers. The event underscored the growing role of city-level diplomacy in tackling shared urban challenges and fostering economic development.
Mayors and representatives from six of Wuhan's sister cities—Manchester in Britain, Kemi in Finland, Cape Town in South Africa, Yangon in Myanmar, Rzeszów in Poland, and Turkistan in Kazakhstan—participated in discussions on urban innovation, industrial cooperation, and cultural exchange. Their participation signals a collective push to deepen ties in technology, industry, education, and culture.
Manchester's Lord Mayor Shaukat Ali highlighted the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship with Wuhan, expressing readiness to deepen cooperation in education, culture, youth affairs, innovation, and industry. "Manchester is committed to promoting urban transformation through open cooperation, sharing opportunities, and fostering common development with international sister cities like Wuhan," Ali said. He noted Manchester's evolution from a post-industrial city to an innovation-driven economy focused on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and green technologies, and suggested the two cities could share expertise in urban transformation, innovation districts, university-industry collaboration, and low-carbon development.
Kemi's City Council Chairman Mikko Koivulehto emphasized balancing economic growth with environmental protection. "We believe that protecting nature and building a prosperous city can go hand in hand," he said. Kemi, a port city in Finnish Lapland, has developed industries based on renewable raw materials, clean energy, and the bioeconomy. This year marks the 10th anniversary of friendly exchanges between Wuhan and Kemi, with cooperation in trade, circular economy, tourism, and youth exchanges.
Cape Town City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo pointed to technological innovation, talent development, infrastructure, and green renewal as key to Wuhan's transformation. He noted that youth unemployment remains a major challenge for Cape Town and that technological development must create jobs. After visiting Wuhan companies and technology facilities, he expressed hope to deepen exchanges in technology and talent.
Yangon Mayor Myo Myint Aung sought Wuhan's experience in smart-city development, digital governance, intelligent transport, and urban resilience. Wuhan and Yangon signed a letter of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation during the event. Myo toured the Optics Valley "Photon" suspended monorail, HGTECH, and a Xiaomi smart home appliance factory. "We came to Wuhan not just to observe, but to learn and cooperate," he said.
Rzeszów Mayor Konrad Fijołek expressed interest in cooperating on aerospace, sensor technology, biodiversity, and climate action. Rzeszów is home to the "Aviation Valley," a major aerospace cluster in Central Europe. After visiting HGTECH and a Xiaomi factory, he praised Wuhan's automated manufacturing and technologies in sensors and satellite systems.
Turkestan Mayor Azimbek Pazylbekuly outlined five areas for cooperation: tourism and culture, education and science, investment and entrepreneurship, digitalization and innovation, and transport and logistics. Wuhan and Turkistan signed a memorandum of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation.
The conference also featured friendship-city anniversary celebrations and a signing ceremony for 10 cooperation projects, along with the release of a digital list of cooperation opportunities and an initiative on international friendship-city cooperation. The event was covered by Media OutReach Newswire.
This news matters because it demonstrates how cities are taking the lead in international cooperation, addressing common challenges such as climate change, unemployment, and sustainable development. For businesses, universities, and research institutions, these partnerships open doors to collaboration, market access, and innovation. As national governments grapple with geopolitical tensions, city-level diplomacy offers a pragmatic path to shared prosperity and global stability.
