Mayors from countries including Japan, South Korea, Greece and Cambodia gathered with domestic mayors in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, as the "Global Mayors Dialogue · Qingdao" kicked off on Saturday.

Under the theme "Celebrating Culture and Tourism Together", the event facilitates comprehensive, multi-tiered discussions, promoting urban exchanges and deepening mutual understanding through dialogue.

"International cooperation in culture and tourism is a key factor in strengthening connections and understanding among nations," Kukharev Vladimir, chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee, Belarus, said. He also emphasized that in the face of challenges, all parties should expand cooperation to promote economic growth and enhance friendship among peoples of all countries.

Yiannis Moralis, mayor of Piraeus, Greece, highlights the significance of the Global Mayors Dialogue in enabling more cities to "see" one another. "Regardless of the size of a nation or city, every civilization and every person possesses unique qualities worthy of showcasing, highlighting and sharing," he said. 

As a significant diplomatic event, the Global Mayors Dialogue has previously been held in cities such as Hangzhou, Nanning, Shanghai and Tianjin.

As the tourism and cultural capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for 2024 to 2025, Qingdao has become a main venue for openness, building a platform to advance international exchanges.