The coastal city of Qingdao has long been committed to fostering connections with cities worldwide.

Its International Friendship Cities Exchange Month, which kicked off on July 19, has emerged as a vibrant platform for global collaboration. Delegates from 19 cities and institutions across 17 countries have gathered to deepen ties in tourism, trade, culture, and industry.

Their genuine spirit of cooperation has injected fresh vitality into Qingdao's key sectors, including cultural-tourism integration and industrial partnerships.

During the opening ceremony, Qingdao established friendly cooperative relations with Somogy County in Hungary and deepened ties with Minsk in Belarus and Dunedin in New Zealand. Since its first sister-city affiliation in 1979, Qingdao has built a friendship network spanning 95 cities in 54 countries.

The Global Mayors Dialogue — Qingdao event was also launched on the same day. Participants engaged in profound discussions on urban development concepts and strategies, with a focus on marine tourism, historical district revitalization, and cultural exchanges.

Qingdao Mayor Ren Gang delivered an extensive speech, showcasing the city's cultural and tourism charm. His remarks on urban development left a lasting impression on international guests, particularly emphasizing Qingdao's oceanic identity and achievements in marine tourism and historical preservation.

Regensburg Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer shared the city's success in boosting off-season tourism via a light festival, aligning with Qingdao's approach of combining historic districts with new business formats. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, secretary to the state government of Lagos, proposed collaboration in green economy, "blue" growth, and youth empowerment.

From July 29 to 31, a 70-member delegation led by Rex Richardson, the mayor of Long Beach, the United States, visited Qingdao to celebrate the 40th anniversary of sister-city ties, participating in various events, including business matchmaking and ballet performances.

The monthlong event coincided with the 35th Qingdao International Beer Festival, which ran from July 18 to Aug 16. Mayoral delegations attended China's largest beer festival, making it a platform for international exchange and consumption promotion.

At the festival's opening ceremony, international friends and the Qingdao mayor raised a toast to friendship and cooperation. Sister-city artists performed local dances, with Dunedin's Maori dance standing out. The dancers in traditional attire with facial markings showcased vigorous, rhythmic movements, that embodied New Zealand's indigenous culture.

Qingdao also engaged in extensive discussions with South Korea's city of Daegu on beer festival cooperation, exchanging experiences on organization and exploring potential collaborations to promote beer culture and plan unique activities.