Under the guidance of the State Council Information Office of China, the “World Mayors Dialogue 2026” took place from October 9 to 11 in Luoyang, Henan Province, under the theme “Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Ancient Capitals, Fostering Mutual Learning Among Urban Civilizations.”

More than 90 mayors, mayoral envoys, representatives of international organizations, and esteemed scholars from over 10 nations—including China, the United Kingdom, Italy, Argentina, and Algeria—engaged in in-depth exchanges on cultural heritage preservation and transmission, industrial transformation and upgrading, and sustainable urban renewal.

The event comprised a plenary dialogue alongside three thematic, on-site scenario dialogues. Moving beyond conventional conference halls, the immersive sessions were staged at the Longmen Grottoes, China Yituo Group Finance Co., Ltd., and the Luoyi Ancient City. Delegates explored cultural inheritance against ancient cliffside carvings, observed smart manufacturing directly beside modern production lines, and deliberated urban renewal while walking the historic alleyways.

Roberto Di Stefano, Mayor of Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, noted that China’s industrial chain strengths are truly impressive. He voiced optimism about deepening international cooperation across sectors like manufacturing and tourism while reinforcing the resilience of industrial development.

Julio Zamora, Mayor of Tigre, Argentina, stated: "Luoyang has preserved its historical relics with extraordinary care while advancing their active, contemporary utilization, seamlessly integrating an ancient civilization into modern urban growth. This experience offers an exemplary model for others to follow."

The dialogue was co-hosted by the Luoyang Municipal People’s Government and the Information Office of the Henan Provincial People’s Government. During the event, the “Luoyang Consensus on Urban Civilizations” was officially released, complemented by promotional cultural exchanges and intangible cultural heritage exhibitions. Bilateral discussions also advanced sister-city partnerships between Luoyang and several international counterparts, with in-depth talks focused on industrial collaboration and cultural tourism connectivity—paving the way to translate constructive dialogue into pragmatic, tangible cooperation.

Source: Anandi, Alim | China Media Group (CMG)