Tbilisi joins hands with Shanghai in new era of urban cooperation

On May 29, Tbilisi and Shanghai officially agreed to deepen their friendship by signing a memorandum to establish closer ties between the two vibrant cities.

The agreement was signed during the visit of Tbilisi’s Deputy Mayor, Andria Basilaya, to Shanghai, alongside Shanghai’s Vice Mayor, Xi Tong, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

This marks an exciting step toward stronger cooperation between Georgia’s capital and one of China’s largest and most dynamic cities.

Deputy Mayor Basilaya highlighted the significance of this partnership: “Shanghai is China’s second-largest city with a staggering population of 24 million people. Its economy is one of the world’s strongest, ranking fifth globally among cities, with a massive GDP of $750 billion. It’s also home to the largest cargo port on the planet.”

The new memorandum sets the stage for collaboration across a wide range of areas — from sports and culture to green initiatives, transportation, and urban development. Both cities are eager to learn from each other and grow together.

During their discussions, the officials emphasised the broader strategic partnership between Georgia and China and the importance of boosting cooperation at the city level.

While in Shanghai, Deputy Mayor Basilaya also took part in the Shanghai Forum on International Cooperation, delivering remarks to representatives from 26 cities around the world. Notable participants included mayors and deputy mayors from cities such as Liverpool, Athens, Marseille, Los Angeles, and Rio de Janeiro.

By Tamilla Hasanova