The Global Mayors Dialogue, held in Wuhan, China, from September 18 to 21, brought together 80 international guests from 24 cities across 22 countries. The event, which included the 2026 Wuhan International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference, saw mayors and city representatives from six international sister cities of Wuhan call for closer cooperation in technology, industry, education, and culture. Cities represented included Manchester, Britain; Kemi, Finland; Cape Town, South Africa; Yangon, Myanmar; Rzeszów, Poland; and Turkistan, Kazakhstan.
Manchester, marking 40 years of sister-city relationship with Wuhan, expressed readiness to deepen cooperation in education, culture, youth affairs, innovation, and industry. Shaukat Ali, lord mayor of Manchester, highlighted the city's transformation from a post-industrial city to an innovation-oriented economy, focusing on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and green technologies. Manchester and Wuhan have existing educational and cultural links, including cooperation between Hubei University and Manchester Metropolitan University.
Kemi, Finland, seeks to balance economic growth with environmental protection. Mikko Koivulehto, chairman of the City Council of Kemi, emphasized the city's focus on renewable raw materials, clean energy, and the bioeconomy. Kemi and Wuhan have cooperated in areas such as trade, the circular economy, tourism, and youth exchanges, marking 10 years of friendly exchange between the two cities.
Cape Town, a UNESCO City of Design, is expanding its technology and digital sectors while promoting green technology and an inclusive economy. Lungelo Mbandazayo, city manager of Cape Town, identified technological innovation, talent development, infrastructure, and green renewal as key to Wuhan's transformation. Cape Town hopes to deepen exchanges with Wuhan in technology and talent, addressing youth unemployment.
Yangon, Myanmar, is seeking practical cooperation with Wuhan in smart-city development, digital governance, intelligent transport, and urban resilience. Yangon Mayor Myo Myint Aung toured Wuhan's technology facilities, including the Optics Valley "Photon" suspended monorail and a Xiaomi smart home appliance factory. Yangon and Wuhan signed a letter of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation.
Rzeszów, Poland, and Turkistan, Kazakhstan, also discussed cooperation opportunities with Wuhan. Rzeszów Mayor Konrad Fijołek expressed interest in aerospace, sensor technology, biodiversity, and climate action, while Turkestan Mayor Azimbek Pazylbekuly sought cooperation in tourism, education, investment, digitalization, and transport. Both cities signed memoranda of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation with Wuhan.
The conference concluded with a signing ceremony for 10 cooperation projects and the release of a digital list of cooperation opportunities and an initiative on international friendship-city cooperation. Visiting mayors toured Wuhan's technology, manufacturing, and ecological facilities, including a Yangtze finless porpoise conservation center and Dongfeng Motor facilities.
Key points
- The Global Mayors Dialogue in Wuhan brought together 80 international guests from 24 cities to discuss urban innovation and cooperation.
- Mayors from six international sister cities of Wuhan called for closer cooperation in technology, industry, education, and culture.
- The event resulted in 10 cooperation projects and an initiative on international friendship-city cooperation.
