The port is Ningbo’s greatest asset, and openness is its greatest advantage, Wang Cheng, Deputy Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and Secretary of the Ningbo Municipal Committee, said at the opening ceremony of the World Mayors Dialogue - Ningbo 2026 on November 3.

Ningbo’s gross regional product reached 2.62 trillion yuan in 2025, making it the 11th-largest city in mainland China, he said. “We intend to study and implement the spirit of the plenary session, and to use this mayors’ dialogue as an opportunity to focus on high-quality development and build a demonstration zone for common prosperity,” Wang said, noting strong growth in the city’s economy and foreign trade this year. He also pointed to progress in public safety: “Ningbo was recently named a model city under the ‘Safe China’ program.”

Chen Kaixin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Xinhua News Agency, also delivered welcoming remarks. “Shared challenges call for shared solutions, because no city can cope with the changes of our era on its own,” he said. Chen described cities as a fundamental pillar of the modern economy and global governance. “Preserving knowledge of the past and present and connecting the world through its port is not only a historical hallmark of Ningbo, but also a vivid reflection of its spirit of openness and tolerance,” he added, noting that Xinhua will continue to support international exchanges and cross-border dialogue among major cities.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown also addressed the participants. “My city has a population of 2 million, of whom 300,000 are Chinese residents, whose culture, energy and business activity give a powerful boost to our economy,” he said. Brown spoke about his many years of doing business in various Chinese cities and expressed deep respect for the country’s economic development over the past three decades. “I have also published a Chinese translation of my book The 5-Minute MBA, and I hope it will be as useful here as it has been elsewhere in the world,” he said. He thanked the hosts for the invitation and noted the long-standing friendship between Auckland and Ningbo.

A NEWS.am correspondent is also attending the opening ceremony.