Native Shanghainese Shi Yue, a junior art director at McCann Worldgroup Italy who has been living in Milan for 10 years, is always amazed by the similarities shared between her hometown and the Italian city she currently stays.

Open, inclusive, developed, international, and trendy… These are the words she used to describe the two cities, both serve as global hubs for many industries, in particular, fashion and design.

"The two cities are alike", Shi exclaimed.

Her observation is echoed by two Italians now living in Shanghai: Gabriele Fezia, an Italian artist and curator, and Aldo Cibic, an Italian architect and designer.

"Everybody agrees that Milan and Shanghai have a special connection and there are many similarities - especially in the way that society and people act and think," said Fezia, who comes from Alessandria near Milan and moved to Shanghai in 2000.

As early as 1979, Shanghai and Milan joined hands to become the first pair of friendship cities between China and Italy. The friendship has been particularly enhanced in light of the passing of the baton between the two World Expos, namely the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and the 2015 World Expo in Milan, thanks to a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the organizing committees of both sides.