The Nishan International Mayors’Dialogue under The Eighth Nishan Forum on World Civilizations was held in Qufu, Jining on September 26. Nearly 40 pairs of Shandong’s international sister city representatives and envoys in China from more than 20 countries attended the event. They had dialogues with Shandong’s city representatives under the theme “cultural inclusiveness and city image”, sharing their successful experience and cooperation opportunities in city governance and demonstrating different city development achievements and cultural charms. The conference also witnessed the launch of Shandong sister city programs in 2022 and the overseas program “Window of Shandong.”

According to the forum, as an important intersection of the “Belt and Road”, Shandong has established sister-city relationships and friendly cooperation with 612 cities in 93 countries, with substantial achievements made through close cooperation between the two sides in culture, economy, trade, science, technology, education, and healthcare. Sister cities are becoming a pivotal location for developing Chinese-foreign ties and deepening Chinese-foreign exchange and cooperation. It is very important to give play to their important role in strengthening friendship and connections between Chinese and foreign people and in promoting cooperation between China and foreign countries.

In the thematic dialogue session, Zhao Haozhi, Mayor of Qingdao, and Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, introduced the development of their cities respectively. Liu Jianjun, Deputy Mayor of Qingdao, and 秦基勋, Deputy Mayor of Daegu, had discussions on the theme “cultural inclusiveness and city image.”Pál Veres, Mayor of Miskolc, introduced the features of his city in the video, while Han Yaodong, Deputy Mayor of Yantai, and Szopkó Tibor, Deputy Mayor of Miskolc, had in-depth discussions on strengthening exchange and cooperation between the two cities in investment, trade, and the economy. Zhang Hongpu, Deputy Mayor of Weihai, and Kanyuk Elena Miroslavovna, Deputy Mayor of Sochi, displayed their respective cultural resources to other pairs of international sister cities and reached consensus on further cooperation in culture.

At the event, the participating mayors reached consensus on the theme of the Nishan International Mayors’Dialogue. They all believe that it is essential for international sister cities to establish the dialogue mechanism, attach importance to their communication, deepen their mutual learning, strengthen their economic and trade cooperation, enhance people’s well-being, and jointly build a bright future.