KUNMING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue, themed "Rainforest and Home: Coexist, Co-create, Share," was held from Tuesday to Thursday in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The event brought together over 100 mayors or their representatives, experts, scholars and media delegates from 24 countries, including China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Participants engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics such as ecological conservation, urban governance, industrial co-development and inclusive livelihood benefits.
The dialogue was guided by the State Council Information Office of China and hosted by the Information Office of the Yunnan Provincial People's Government and the People's Government of Xishuangbanna Prefecture.
During the event, participants exchanged practical experience in ecological governance, green development, specialty industry cultivation and cultural heritage preservation, via plenary sessions, situational dialogues and field visits. They also toured tropical rainforest conservation areas, ecological tea gardens and characteristic villages to gain first-hand understanding of Xishuangbanna's exploration of integrating ecological protection with industrial development.
"Promoting the harmonious development of humanity and nature is a common challenge facing the world today," said Dao Wen, head of Xishuangbanna Prefecture. He noted that different regions have carried out diverse explorations and practices based on their unique natural endowments and development conditions, and expressed the hope that the dialogue would facilitate exchanges and cooperation with cities worldwide in jointly charting new pathways for ecological conservation and urban governance.
During the event, the Xishuangbanna Initiative was officially launched, outlining four priority areas: ecological coexistence, industrial co-development, inclusive benefits and sustained win-win cooperation, to serve as a guiding framework for coordinated and sustainable urban development. ■
