Digitally empowered governance, trust-based cooperation, and security as a foundation for growth were highlighted at a summit as key pillars in the future development of cities across the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The Global Mayors Dialogue: SCO Summit Cities was held in Tianjin from Sunday to Wednesday. The event brought together nearly 20 representatives of SCO member states and cities to engage in two thematic dialogues focused on urban governance and cooperation.
Urban governance was a central theme throughout the discussions. As smart city development becomes a global priority, China's experience in enhancing governance through digital technologies drew broad attention and recognition from visiting delegates.
Parvina Mukhamadalievna Nematova, a city councilor from Dushanbe in Tajikistan, noted that Dushanbe has drawn on Chinese experience for more than 20 smart city projects.
"We have witnessed the autonomous management system of the Tianjin Port, including its digital and unmanned operations. These practices provide valuable references for both urban governance and enterprise management. We plan to carry out cooperation with Tianjin in this regard," she said.
China's emerging low-altitude economy also attracted considerable attention as a potential innovative solution to ease urban congestion and improve transportation management.
Aleksandra Voronova, a counselor at the Moscow Center for International Cooperation, expressed strong interest in China's current exploration of "air taxis" and drone-based traffic monitoring.
This interest, she said, is driven by the significant pressure on urban mobility in Moscow, where a public transport system handles over 16.6 million trips daily -- amounting to 6 billion trips annually.
In May, a delegation from Moscow visited the southern Chinese metropolises of Shenzhen and Guangzhou to participate in thematic exchanges, and to tour several urban planning and transportation design institutions. This provided crucial insights for the enhancement of Moscow's transportation infrastructure and population mobility monitoring systems, Voronova said.
Beyond hardware and technological connectivity, trust remains the invisible infrastructure of the digital age. Participants were in broad agreement that trust among SCO countries is not only built on transparent, open interactions, but is also deeply rooted in cultural affinity and mutual understanding.
In an interview, Sheradil Baktygulov, director of Kyrgyzstan's Institute for World Policy Study, said that China and Kyrgyzstan share not only borders but also cultural ties dating back over 2,000 years, and this has laid a solid foundation for ongoing exchange and cooperation between the countries' younger generations.
In 2024, China announced plans to offer 1,000 youth exchange places for young people from SCO countries over the next five years.
"Understanding each other's culture leads to trust. And with trust comes the possibility of joint development and shared prosperity," said Zhazgul Madinova, a media expert at Kyrgyz national Kabar news agency.
Ensuring security as the foundation for development became a key concern among participants. Discussions covered long-standing issues like combating international crime, the emerging challenges of artificial intelligence, and protecting public health and personal safety.
As important centers for economic cooperation and regional growth within the SCO, cities are increasingly seeing security not as a cost but as a core asset for sustainable development.
Attendees called for the creation of a broader, stronger platform under the SCO to enable city leaders to discuss and coordinate on security matters regularly, enhancing joint decision-making and responses.
