​Global Mayors Dialogue held in Harbin

From January 6 to 7, the Global Mayors Dialogue took place in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. Mayors, vice mayors, and mayoral representatives from eight cities across eight countries gathered to exchange in-depth experiences and practical approaches for developing the ice-and-snow economy.

On January 6, the opening ceremony of the Global Mayors Dialogue was held in Harbin, during which guests lit the "Snowy Charm of Lilac" torch tower. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Main Dialogue Session of the Global Mayors Dialogue in Harbin. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

On January 7, during the main dialogue session of the Global Mayors Dialogue in Harbin, Chinese and international guests—including Mr. Wang Hesheng, Mayor of Harbin, China; Mr. Andrew Knack, Mayor of Edmonton, Canada; Mr. Heikki Kontiosalo, Second Chairman of Rovaniemi City Council, Finland; Mr. Thorsten Kroll, Vice Mayor of Magdeburg Municipality, Germany; Ms. Christina Machaira, Vice Mayor of Chalandri Municipality, Greece; Mr. Nam Dong Kyeong, Vice Mayor of Bucheon City, Republic of Korea; Mr. Wisakha Panyachuai, Deputy Mayor of Chiang Mai Municipality, Thailand; and Mr. Zafer Aynalı, Vice Mayor of Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality, Türkiye—shared their cities' practical experiences and common aspirations in developing the ice-and-snow industry, urban governance, and related fields.

Mayor Wang Hesheng stated: "Harbin has established sister-city relationships with 37 cities across 28 countries. We look forward to deepening cooperation in ice-and-snow industries, technology, culture, education, and other areas, allowing ice and snow to become a bridge connecting the world." As a world-renowned City of Music and International Wetland City, Harbin boasts rich cultural heritage, excellent ecological resources, 49 higher education institutions, and nationally significant aerospace and other facilities. Harbin has transformed its snowy landscape into "invaluable assets." Attractions such as the Harbin Ice and Snow World and the Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo are famous worldwide. During the ice-and-snow season, the city receives over 90 million visitors annually, with a total ice-and-snow economy output of RMB 160 billion.

Edmonton, Canada, promotes urban transformation based on three pillars: winter livability, winter culture, and winter innovation. By creating a seamless winter mobility system, hosting over 100 winter festivals, including the Edmonton International Ice Carving Competition, and building a global center for energy transition and sustainable technologies, Edmonton turns winter into an opportunity for thriving development. Mr. Andrew Knack noted that Edmonton possesses high-quality agricultural land and top-tier universities and looks forward to strengthening exchanges with Harbin in the ice-and-snow economy, higher education, agriculture, and other areas to jointly promote talent cultivation and innovative collaboration.

Rovaniemi, Finland, is Harbin's international sister city, and 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of their sister-city relationship. As the only provincial capital city built above the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi has rich experience in ice-and-snow culture, tourism, and sports, making it a world-famous winter tourism destination. Mr. Heikki Kontiosalo stated that the city's long snow season provides more opportunities for tourism development. Beyond professional sports events, Rovaniemi actively promotes mass participation in ice-and-snow sports, transforming natural endowments into economic vitality.

Magdeburg, Germany, promotes sustainable urban development through systematic thinking and forward-looking planning, with urban resilience as a core principle. Mr. Thorsten Kroll explained that the city integrates economic, research, education, and cultural needs through land-use planning, creating green networks and a "sponge city" system with water bodies and green spaces serving as climate buffers. Using the HAL Plan digital twin system to simulate urban climate and water systems ensures scientific planning. Although climate conditions limit long-term utilization of ice-and-snow resources, Magdeburg hopes to learn from Harbin's ice-and-snow tourism development experience and deepen cooperation in healthcare, urban planning, and other fields.

Chalandri, Greece, has developed innovative projects around the ancient Roman Hadrian Aqueduct, creating cultural landmarks and public open spaces. Through broad citizen participation, the city achieves a win-win balance between cultural heritage preservation and ecological protection. Ms. Christina Machaira stated that Chalandri and Harbin both prioritize cultural heritage protection and look forward to strengthening cultural exchanges and knowledge sharing, as well as deepening collaboration in sustainable development and community resilience.

Bucheon, South Korea, is a culturally renowned city with the highest population density in the country, excelling in industries such as comics, film, and beauty. To address urban challenges like traffic congestion and environmental pollution, the city is building a smart city, including intelligent transportation facilities, AI monitoring systems, and an integrated operations control center to monitor traffic in real time, ensure public safety, and tackle environmental issues, thereby enhancing convenience and competitiveness. Mr. Nam Dong Kyeong noted that Bucheon has maintained a 30-year friendship with Harbin and looks forward to deepening cooperation in economic trade, smart city construction, and cultural and artistic exchanges.

Deputy Mayor Wisakha Panyachuai of Chiang Mai, Thailand, mentioned: "Chiang Mai has a history of over 700 years and remains committed to cultural heritage protection during urban renewal. We have established a city heritage center to pass on Lanna culture through themed exhibitions and school-based curricula. Festivals such as the Songkran Water Festival, and the Lantern Festival strengthen cultural identity while promoting economic development. We have also introduced regulations to protect historic buildings and preserve the city's historic appearance."

Mr. Zafer Aynalı, Vice Mayor of Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality, Türkiye, stated: "Our ski center is only five minutes from the city, which is a major advantage. We have also planned the construction of supporting facilities, such as hotels." Thanks to its high-quality ski resorts and experience hosting international ice-and-snow events, Erzurum enjoys a strong reputation both within Türkiye and the region.

At the event, eight mayors jointly released the "Sharing the Opportunities of Ice and Snow, Jointly Promoting Urban Development" Harbin Initiative of the Global Mayors Dialogue. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Scene from the "Ice and Snow Night Talk" salon. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

At the "Ice and Snow Night Talk" salon on January 6, mayors and representatives discussed the sustainable development of the ice-and-snow economy, global cooperation pathways, and the creation of ice-and-snow IP. They shared experiences and strategies from their respective cities and explored how to make the best use of "the white gold."

Guests participating in the "Rendezvous upon Ice and Snow, Carving the World" activity, experiencing immersive ice sculpture creation. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

During the event, guests participated in an immersive experience at the ice sculpture area in the Harbin Ice and Snow World through "Rendezvous upon Ice and Snow, Carving the World." They personally carved the Global Mayors Dialogue logo into ice and enjoyed the unique charm of ice sculpture culture through interactive activities.

Guests visit the Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival and experience the "Ice and Snow Wonderland, Fun Together" activity. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Guests explored Central Street, HIT Aerospace Museum, and the Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival. In the carnival's public activity area, they experienced cultural-tourism projects such as fun ice curling, interacted closely with citizens and tourists, and felt Harbin's open and innovative city spirit.

This event, themed "Connecting the World with Ice and Snow, Win-win Cooperation for a Shared Future," was guided by the State Council Information Office and jointly hosted by the Heilongjiang Provincial Government Information Office and Harbin Municipal Government.