A robot boxing performance captivates delegates at the 10th Hangzhou International Sister City Mayors Conference. [Photo/The 10th Hangzhou International Sister City Mayors Conference]

The 10th Hangzhou International Sister City Mayors Conference, held from Nov 4 to 7, brought together more than 130 representatives from 27 cities across 18 countries, including mayors, diplomats, and officials from international organizations.

Hangzhou Mayor Du Xuliang invited global partners to tap into the city's AI ecosystem, which includes companies such as Alibaba and NetEase, as well as innovators including DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics. In the first three quarters of the year, revenue from Hangzhou's core AI industries reached 428.3 billion yuan ($64.16 billion), up 28.2 percent year-on-year. The city's open-source ecosystem has also attracted developers worldwide.

International delegates shared practical approaches to AI adoption. Cape Town, South Africa, is using machine learning and smart water data to detect leaks, while Hangzhou has applied digital technologies to traffic management and other urban services. Queenstown Mayor John Glover said he hoped to connect Hangzhou's technological strengths with the New Zealand city's tourism needs, creating opportunities to test and apply new technologies.

The conference also fostered city-to-city cooperation. Hangzhou and Uganda's Mbale signed a friendship and exchange cooperation memorandum, focusing on coffee trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Additionally, the Hangzhou Low-Carbon Science and Technology Museum and the Museum of the Future in Nuremberg, Germany, signed a letter of intent to cooperate.

Participants issued an initiative calling for responsible and inclusive AI development, while international delegates planted trees at Hangzhou Botanical Garden, symbolizing lasting ties between sister cities.