Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, delivers a speech via video link at the second “A River Dialogue between Shanghai and New York” held in Shanghai on December 15 (COURTESY PHOTO)   

Representatives from United Nations agencies, scholars and practitioners in international affairs, along with government officials and business leaders gathered in Shanghai on December 15 for the second “A River Dialogue between Shanghai and New York” event. Themed Decoding the Interaction and Cooperation Between Global Metropolises and International Organizations, the event aimed to explore how major cities and international institutions can collaborate more effectively, deepen people-to-people exchange, strengthen the foundation of bilateral friendship and inject new momentum into inter-city cooperation and Shanghai’s global development.  

The dialogue took place at the historic Jinjiang Hotel, where the 1972 China–U.S. Joint Communiqué was signed. It was co-hosted by the Shanghai Public Relations Association, the Shanghai Institute of American Studies, and the Shanghai UN Research Association. 

Launched in 2024 and named after the Huangpu River in Shanghai and the Hudson River in New York City, the River Dialogue initially focused on trade and investment, cultural exchange, and waterfront development. This year’s edition, held as 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of both the United Nations and the end of World War II, shifted its focus to how global cities engage with international organizations amid accelerating global change. 

In his opening remarks, Sha Hailin, President of the Shanghai Public Relations Association, argued that international organizations are becoming more important as the world faces headwinds to globalization, rapid technological change and intensifying climate challenges. He said international organizations in Shanghai can bring global standards and ideas that help the city connect internationally, while Shanghai can offer a high-quality service environment and market opportunities in return. Sha called for bold policy innovation, upgraded infrastructure and sustained international talent development to boost Shanghai’s openness and competitiveness.   

Chen Jing, President of the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said in a video address that Shanghai is accelerating its development into a globally influential modern metropolis and wants to learn from global city experience, including New York’s.  

In his remarks, Yu Hongjun, former Vice Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and a former ambassador, noted that while Shanghai and New York differ in history and cultural characteristics, both hold strategic importance for deepening cooperation in a globalized world. He called on the two cities to expand exchange and jointly explore innovative solutions to shared global challenges. 

“The Huangpu River and the Hudson River are not only geographical landmarks, they are living witnesses to the evolution of two remarkable global metropolises,” said Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator in China, via video link. “Their transformation from industrial arteries into vibrant cultural, ecological and economic hubs reflects cities’ ability to reinvent themselves.”   

Xu Xin, Deputy District Mayor of Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, outlined ongoing efforts to develop an international organization cluster in the district. Pudong currently hosts one intergovernmental body, the New Development Bank, and 48 non-governmental organizations, supported by targeted policies and the establishment of the Qiantan International Economic Organization Cluster. This strategic initiative aims to attract global institutions and strengthen connections between international organizations and key industries, including integrated circuits, biomedicine, and AI. 

Jeffrey S. Lehman, executive vice chancellor of New York University Shanghai, presented a university-led initiative aligned with the World Health Organization’s “Decade of Healthy Aging” from 2021 through 2030. He described a “dual-city” research project that compares age-friendly urban environments in Shanghai and New York, with the goal of translating findings into actionable policy recommendations. 

“The Dual-City Project opens up the possibility of designing a hybrid health intervention model that could combine the strengths of both Shanghai and New York,” Lehman said. To him, it is an important example of the two river cities working together to advance the goals of a UN initiative. 

A subsequent panel featured seven themed interventions. Liu Meng, the head of China office  of UN Global Compact, said the organization has supported Shanghai’s deeper participation in global governance through policy and standards alignment, particularly in environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, alongside convening high-level dialogues and building corporate capacity via training and accelerator programs.   

Ying Sheng, country manager of UN-Habitat China Office, cited cooperative initiatives such as World Cities Day and sustainability awards frameworks linked to Shanghai, and said platforms like the River Dialogue could help Shanghai and New York explore new models for city–international organization collaboration. Other speakers discussed legal and fiscal approaches to attracting international organizations, the historical ties between Shanghai and New York, and the role of education and cultural resources in expanding international cooperation.   

In closing, Xu Bu, member of UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism and former head of the China Institute of International Studies, said people-to-people exchange and city-to-city engagement are increasingly important and Shanghai should continue strengthening institutions, supportive policies and talent attraction to advance its goal of becoming a hub for international organizations.   

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon  

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