Over 80 city mayors and representatives from more than 20 countries, along with leaders of international organizations, gathered to explore pathways for open and inclusive urban development at the "2026 Global Mayor Dialogue · Wuhan" held from Sept 18 to 21 in Wuhan, Hubei province.

The main dialogue on Sept 20 featured city leaders from the UK, Finland, South Africa, Myanmar, Poland, and others. They held in-depth discussions on topics such as enhancing urban development through technological innovation, expanding city openness through industrial collaboration, and improving citizens' quality of life through cultural exchange.

Since its launch on Sept 18, the event had hosted two thematic dialogues. The first, "Co-creating and Sharing Livable Development Spaces", focused on ecological themes, using Yangtze River protection as a case study to share experiences in watershed management, biodiversity conservation, and resilient city building. The second, "Technology for a Better Life", included experiences like riding the Optics Valley SkyRail and visiting smart appliance factories, exploring opportunities in smart transportation and AI-powered urban development.

Shaukat Ali, mayor of Manchester, UK, highlighted the deepening cooperation between Manchester and Wuhan since becoming sister cities in 1986. The joint initiative, the UK-China Clean Energy Cooperation Forum, showcases both cities' strengths in low-carbon industries and advanced manufacturing.

Jordi Vaquer, secretary-general of Metropolis, said, "Wuhan has achieved a commendable balance between modern development and Yangtze River ecological protection." He emphasized that urban development challenges transcend national borders and that no city can tackle them alone. Cities worldwide must shoulder responsibility and keep channels of cooperation open.

During the event, the city also hosted city-themed exhibitions, "Wuhan Impressions" tours, and business matchmaking sessions, showcasing Wuhan's development achievements and fostering practical project collaborations between Chinese and international cities and enterprises.