Mayors laud Shanghai for innovations

Mayors and representatives participating in the Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2025 Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum visit Shanghai Tower on Friday. (GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY)

Many among the around 100 international dignitaries, including mayors of global cities, who gathered in Shanghai for the Global Mayors Dialogue, said they were left in awe by Shanghai's innovations and technologies.

They also emphasized the need to further strengthen intercity cooperation after visiting various sites across the city on Friday.

Some visited tech businesses, some ascended the city's tallest skyscraper, and some others explored ancient towns, deepening their understanding of the city from perspectives of the economy, culture and urban development.

During the visits, they said they saw Shanghai's initiatives in ecological preservation and innovative development, which relate to the true values of life for people from different backgrounds around the world.

The guests from 26 cities across five continents attended the Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2025 Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum on Thursday, where they exchanged practical approaches regarding low-carbon development and inspiring youth vitality.

Jucelia Oliveira Freitas, vice-president of the Legislative Assembly of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said she was impressed by the technologies of Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corp, which caters to over 2,000 global clients with auto parts products and services.

She was also impressed by the fact that this enterprise has a significant international presence with nine production parks, 11 research and development centers, and more than 20 sales branches in locations, including the United States, Germany, Hungary and Austria.

"Urban transportation and automotive technology are important issues for global cities. I specifically chose to include a visit to such a company during my itinerary in Shanghai," she said.

"Understanding and learning from successful development experiences from Shanghai may benefit possible future collaborations between Brazil and China," she said.

Haris Doukas, mayor of Athens, Greece, who visited the iconic 127-story Shanghai Tower, described the skyscraper as a "construction miracle".

Also, he emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the two ancient civilizations.

"Though the physical distance between Athens and Shanghai is vast, this forum draws us closer. We will continue working to establish strong communication, bridges, cooperation and long-lasting understanding," Doukas said.

Michele Rubirola, first deputy mayor of Marseille, France, led a delegation to Ruijin Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

The delegation met with the hospital's Vice-President Shen Baiyong at the institution's pancreatic disease center, where they discussed medical collaborations between Ruijin Hospital and its French counterparts.

At the hospital's traditional Chinese medicine department, Rubirola attempted her first acupuncture experience to address fatigue. "I felt nothing as the doctor inserted the needles. It was fantastic," she said.

Many of the guests described Shanghai as wonderful, beautiful, and amazing. Some who had visited the city before said they were impressed by the swift pace of remarkable progress regarding urban infrastructure witnessed in the city.