Wuhan hosted the Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2026 Wuhan International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference from September 18 to 21, drawing 80 international guests from 24 cities across 22 countries. The event underscored the growing role of city-level diplomacy in tackling shared urban challenges and fostering mutual development. According to Media OutReach Newswire, mayors and representatives from six of Wuhan’s international sister cities called for closer cooperation in technology, industry, education, and culture.
Representatives from 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. The dialogue highlighted how cities can share best practices and drive economic growth through international partnerships.
Manchester’s Lord Mayor Shaukat Ali noted that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Wuhan and Manchester. He emphasized Manchester’s commitment to urban transformation through open cooperation, sharing opportunities, and fostering common development with international sister cities like Wuhan. Ali said Manchester had evolved from a post-industrial city into an innovation-oriented economy, focusing on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and green technologies. He suggested the two cities could share experience in urban transformation, innovation districts, university-industry cooperation, and low-carbon development. He also highlighted existing educational and cultural links, including cooperation between Hubei University and Manchester Metropolitan University and exchanges between the Royal Northern College of Music and Wuhan Conservatory of Music.
Mikko Koivulehto, chairman of the City Council of Kemi, said the Finnish city sought to balance 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 the friendly exchange relationship between Wuhan and Kemi, with cooperation in trade, the circular economy, tourism, and youth exchanges.
Lungelo Mbandazayo, city manager of Cape Town, identified technological innovation, talent development, infrastructure, and green renewal as key to Wuhan’s transformation. Cape Town, a UNESCO City of Design, is seeking to expand its technology and digital sectors while promoting green technology and an inclusive economy. Mbandazayo said youth unemployment remained a major challenge and that technological development needed to create jobs. After visiting Wuhan companies and technology facilities, he expressed hope to deepen exchanges in technology and talent.
Yangon Mayor Myo Myint Aung said his city was looking to Wuhan for 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. During a visit to Wuhan on September 19, 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, adding that Yangon hoped to develop smart manufacturing and strengthen cooperation in information technology.
Rzeszów Mayor Konrad Fijołek said the Polish city hoped to cooperate with Wuhan in aerospace, sensor technology, biodiversity, and climate action. Rzeszów is home to the “Aviation Valley,” a major aerospace cluster in Central Europe. “Exploring cooperation with Wuhan is the reason I came here,” Fijołek said. After visiting HGTECH and a Xiaomi smart home appliance factory, he said Wuhan’s automated manufacturing and technologies in sensors and satellite systems had impressed him. He noted that cities could help connect universities, businesses, and research institutions and promote international cooperation.
Turkestan Mayor Azimbek Pazylbekuly said his city hoped to expand cooperation with Wuhan in 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 during the event. Turkistan, an ancient Silk Road city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been developing industries including food processing, textiles, furniture, and construction materials. Pazylbekuly said cooperation between governments, businesses, universities, and research institutions could help turn exchanges into concrete projects.
The conference also included friendship-city anniversary celebrations and a signing ceremony for 10 cooperation projects. A digital list of cooperation opportunities and an initiative on international friendship-city cooperation were released. During their stay, the visiting mayors toured Wuhan’s technology, manufacturing, and ecological facilities, including the Optics Valley suspended monorail, a Yangtze finless porpoise conservation center, Xiaomi, HGTECH, and Dongfeng Motor facilities.
