From May 13 to 15, representatives from 32 cities and five international organizations across 26 countries will gather in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, China, for the “2026 Global Mayors Dialogue Chengdu” series of events.
This high-profile gathering, held in a park city, further underscores the increasingly important role of this southwestern Chinese metropolis as a host of international conferences.
During the event, focusing on areas such as technological innovation, industrial collaboration, cultural exchange, and ecological security, participants will engage in discussions on inter-civilizational exchanges, mutual learning, openness, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation.
Participants will also visit iconic locations such as the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, and the Eastern Suburb Memory Park. These itineraries showcase China’s efforts in ecological conservation and cultural heritage preservation, while reflecting the integration of historical legacy with modern urban development.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Openness and inclusiveness are defining traits of this city, which maintains as many as 254 international “sister cities” and Johannesburg is one of them. In May 2013, Chengdu and Johannesburg officially established a sister-city relationship. This mechanism provides an institutional framework for collaboration between the two cities in real estate, economy, trade, and other fields.
In recent years, Chengdu has hosted many major international events. In 2025, the city held both the World Games 2025 Chengdu and the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025, earning widespread recognition for its organizational capabilities. Later that same year, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Chengdu for the first time, touring the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System.
Erastus Mwencha, former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, also attended the 2025 Global Panda Partners Conference held in the city. Last month, the girls’ choir affiliated with the Vienna Boys Choir made its China debut in Chengdu.
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System
As one of China’s cultural and economic powerhouses, Chengdu is becoming an increasingly popular destination for inbound tourists. The city holds diverse appeal for different audiences: giant pandas are beloved worldwide; South Korean content creators are drawn to its cultural charm and natural scenery; and younger travellers are attracted by the city’s high level of cultural inclusiveness.
The “Global Mayors Dialogue” is a flagship international outreach event organized under the guidance of the State Council Information Office of the PRC. The event aims to invite foreign city mayors to China for exchanges and dialogue.
Using Chinese cities as a window, it will showcase the achievements of Chinese modernization, enhance mutual trust and friendship, deepen mutual learning, and help build a community with a shared future for mankind. Since September 2024, this series of events has been held in cities including Hangzhou, Nanning, and Shanghai.
