Global Mayors Dialogue·Wuhan | Key takeaways: Forging stronger exchange and cooperation for shared development

The 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue·Wuhan drew to a close on September 21 in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. Invited to share their reflections on the event, mayors and international guests offered a rich diversity of perspectives.

Shaukat Ali, Lord Mayor of Manchester, commended Wuhan's technological advancements and voiced a keen interest in deepening future cooperation.

Victoria Henstock, Deputy Mayor of Christchurch, underscored the importance of reconnecting with global peers, exchanging experiences, and jointly tackling shared challenges in technology and the environment.

Sandesh Sadalge, a City Council Member from Tacoma, stressed the critical role of youth-to-youth and people-to-people exchanges in building lasting international ties.

Ria Johnson, Chair of Tacoma Sister Cities, emphasized the importance of collaboration among government, educational institutions and local communities, alongside the enduring value of student exchange programs.

Different cities, different experiences, different perspectives — yet one shared conviction prevails: dialogue, exchange and cross-sector cooperation create new opportunities for shared development.