New York and Shanghai underscored their growing partnership during the “Our Water Season III: Shanghai-New York City Dialogue” forum held Tuesday in New York. The event convened government officials, business executives, financial institutions, and cultural leaders to explore avenues for expanded cooperation between the two global metropolises, with a particular emphasis on finance, consumer industries, and emerging technologies.
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and former mayor of New York City, highlighted the shared attributes of the two cities as prominent waterfront hubs and international centers of commerce and culture. Bloomberg, whose firm has maintained a presence in Shanghai for over 30 years, stressed the importance of continued exchanges between urban centers amid rising global interdependence. “Great cities just don’t compete with each other. They learn from each other,” he said, emphasizing the role of cities in addressing complex issues such as public health, education, housing, and climate change. Bloomberg noted that urban populations now constitute more than half of the global population, placing city governments at the forefront of policy innovation and collaboration.
Tang Zhiwen, minister at the Chinese embassy in the United States, described the Shanghai-New York relationship as a leading example of China-U.S. cooperation. Tang outlined opportunities for the two cities to spearhead advances in areas including artificial intelligence, climate resilience, green shipping, and smart city initiatives. He further emphasized development in integrated computing power networks and cross-border telecommunications infrastructure—sectors in which Shanghai plays a critical role due to its fiber-optic hubs and strengths in energy, computing, and logistics.
Li Chao, deputy head of an energy and computing integration institute in Hami, a city in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, discussed plans to establish Hami as a pioneering computing power zone connected to the digital Silk Road. The initiative aims to both enhance domestic development and extend influence across countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative by sharing technological resources and development models.
The forum also featured a panel discussion including former NBA star Yao Ming, who serves as chairman of the Yao Foundation. His participation underscored the cultural and social dimensions of the cooperation between the two cities.
As New York and Shanghai deepen their dialogue, participants expressed optimism that their collaboration could set a benchmark for broader China-U.S. engagement, driving innovation and sustainable development across multiple sectors.