Representatives from various international cities expressed admiration for Shanghai's development and emphasized the importance of strengthening urban cooperation during their visit to the city on Friday as part of the Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2025 Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum.

The delegation, comprising mayors and senior officials from cities across the world, highlighted Shanghai's achievements in urban development, and expressed interest in deepening bilateral cooperation.

Haris Doukas, mayor of Athens, Greece, described the Shanghai Tower as a "construction miracle" and emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the two ancient civilizations.

"Though the physical distance between Athens and Shanghai is vast, this forum draws us closer. We will continue working to establish strong communication, bridges, cooperation, and long-lasting understanding," he said.

The Lord Mayor of Ireland's Cork, Dan Boyle, characterized Shanghai as a "vibrant city that is not afraid of the future," while Tom Verbelen, director of External Relations of Antwerp, Belgium, praised Shanghai's initiative in bringing partner cities together to discuss shared urban challenges, and highlighted that Antwerp and Shanghai have maintained relations for about 40 years.

African representatives also shared their perspectives. Namibia's Windhoek Mayor, Ndeshihafela Larandja, particularly praised Shanghai's green development and innovative technology. "Shanghai is such a beautiful city with innovative technology. The city is naturally green. Its infrastructure and roads are truly amazing," she said.

The visiting officials were particularly impressed by Shanghai's integration of modern development with environmental consciousness, with several expressing interest in learning from Shanghai's smart city initiatives and green energy solutions.