Nov 3 – Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with David Perdue, the United States ambassador to China.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng (right) meets with David Perdue, the United States ambassador to China, on Nov 3, 2025. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghaifabu]

Gong said that since the 1980s, Shanghai had established friendship city relationships with San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston, and signed a friendship memorandum with New York. Shanghai Port and the Port of Los Angeles also jointly proposed the building of a green shipping corridor.

He said he looked forward to deeper cooperation in trade and industrial investment, welcoming more US companies to leverage the China International Import Expo to bring quality products, advanced technologies, and distinctive services to China.

Perdue said he hopes both sides will focus more on common interests and work together to address challenges and differences. He praised Shanghai as an important global economic engine and conveyed his eagerness to visit the city again.

Nov 4 – Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut.

Gong highlighted the positive achievements made since Shanghai and Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, became friendship cities. He encouraged more Serbian enterprises to participate in the CIIE and called for stronger cooperation in trade, industrial investment, and tourism.

Macut praised Shanghai as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. He said he looked forward to deepening cooperation with the city in transportation, infrastructure development, artificial intelligence, automobile manufacturing, education, and tourism.

Nov 4 – Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Darkhan Satybaldy, mayor of Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city.

Gong said that Shanghai and Almaty established a friendship city relationship in June this year, opening a new chapter for deeper exchanges and cooperation.

He welcomed more Kazakh enterprises, including those from Almaty, to participate in the CIIE, and encouraged closer collaboration in tourism, culture, arts, and youth exchanges.

Satybaldy said he hopes that the two cities could strengthen collaboration in education, healthcare, technology, industry, and tourism. He added that Almaty will bring more of its unique products and services to China through the CIIE.

Nov 5 – Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Gong noted that Shanghai established friendly exchange ties with Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, this year.

He said he looked forward to strengthening economic and trade ties and enhancing industrial investment cooperation. He emphasized making full use of the CIIE and the Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center to turn exhibits into commodities and exhibitors into investors.

Kobakhidze expressed Georgia's willingness to deepen cooperation with Shanghai, with economic collaboration as a cornerstone of bilateral ties. He said he hoped that Georgia's products can reach Chinese consumers through the CIIE and that more travelers from Shanghai will visit Georgia.

Nov 6 – Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Soren Toft, CEO of Switzerland-based shipping service provider MSC Group and chairman of the World Shipping Council.

Gong said Shanghai is accelerating the development of smart ports, waterways, and terminals to develop a world-class shipping hub. He welcomed MSC's active participation and expressed the city's commitment to deepening strategic cooperation and promoting green and low-carbon growth in the shipping industry.

Toft said China remains one of MSC's most promising markets. The group will further expand investment in China, develop new infrastructure, order new container vessels, and grow its air cargo business.

He added that MSC looks forward to long-term cooperation with Shanghai, including participation in major projects such as the city's Asia-Pacific air cargo hub.