Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with a delegation led by David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, in Shanghai on July 23.

Gong said that Shanghai serves as an important bridge for friendly exchanges between China and Europe. The city has established friendship-city ties with 38 European cities and engaged in extensive practical cooperation with them in various fields.

He expressed hope that Shanghai and the European Union would further deepen cooperation in economic and trade relations, industrial investment, and people-to-people exchanges. He also called for greater support for outstanding enterprises from both sides to invest and operate in each other's markets, contributing to further progress in China-Europe exchanges and cooperation.

McAllister said the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference recently held in Shanghai fully demonstrated the profound impact AI is having on industries and social development worldwide. He expressed hope that both sides would continue to enhance communication and dialogue, deepen mutual understanding, and promote practical cooperation.