Mayors and representatives from 26 cities spanning 22 countries across five continents have gathered in Shanghai for the ongoing Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2025 Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum, an event that kicked off on Wednesday.

The highlight of the event is a main forum scheduled for Thursday afternoon, where delegates will delve into Shanghai's business environment and development plans, followed by discussions on "green and low-carbon empowerment for sustainable urban development" and "inspiring youth vitality for city innovation in the future".

The forum aims to not only ignite inspiration among attending mayors to craft tailored solutions for their respective cities but also to provide a global outlook on tackling shared urban challenges.

Shanghai's commitment to international relationships is underscored by its enduring partnerships with 95 international friendship cities, dating back to the establishment of its first sister city relationship with Yokohama, Japan in 1973 and extending to the recent collaboration with Athens, Greece earlier this year.

These connections serve as vital resources for Shanghai, fostering active communication and mutual trust between Chinese and foreign friendship cities, benefitting residents on both ends.

As Shanghai commemorates significant milestones this year, including the 30th anniversary of its friendship city relationship with Windhoek, Namibia, and the 20th anniversaries with Cork, Ireland, and Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, the forum serves as a platform for mayors and representatives to engage in mutual learning and achievement, bridging cultures and fostering collaboration on a global scale.

Ndeshihafela Larandja, the mayor of Windhoek, expressed the city's desire to learn from Shanghai in developing a greener city, saying Whindoek has "the portions of gardens in the city, but not the city within a garden" as Shanghai is.

"Shanghai is a city, which is within the garden, because you see the greenish everywhere. You might also imagine that you are in a forest," said the mayor during a group interview on Wednesday.

Wu Wanzhen contributed to this story.