Mayors and senior officials from 26 cities and states across 22 countries have convened in Shanghai this week for the Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2025 Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum, aimed at strengthening international partnerships and sharing best practices in urban governance.

Among the visiting delegates are representatives from Marseille (France), Espoo (Finland), Liverpool (UK), Antwerp (Belgium), and the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The four-day forum, which began on Wednesday, includes a main plenary session on Thursday afternoon where participants will be briefed on Shanghai's business environment and long-term development strategies.

Discussions will focus on green and low-carbon city management, as well as the role of young people in urban innovation. Organizers said the event seeks to unlock new areas of collaboration and deepen existing sister-city ties.

Shanghai is expected to sign new cooperation agreements during the forum, including with Vientiane, Laos, and Tbilisi, Georgia.

Since its launch in 2019, the Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum has drawn participation from representatives of 43 cities across 35 countries, including the UK, Japan, Egypt, Russia, and Argentina. It has served as a platform for dialogue on urban development, innovation, and economic cooperation, contributing to what officials describe as the "high-quality development" of international sister-city relationships.

Shanghai currently maintains formal friendship ties with 95 cities or regions in 59 countries.

This year also marks several milestones in Shanghai's global outreach: the 30th anniversary of sister-city relations with Windhoek, Namibia; 20 years with Cork, Ireland and South Korea's Jeonbuk Province; and the establishment of new ties with Athens, Greece in January.