Espoo continues its long-term cooperation with Shanghai

During the visit, the delegation met with Shanghai city leadership, participated in a joint sustainable development forum, and continued cooperation with Finnish companies, universities and cultural organisations.

The sister-city relationship between Espoo and Shanghai has continued for nearly 30 years. According to Mayor Kai Mykkänen, the long-term sister-city partnership is an important channel for Espoo to promote international cooperation and economic vitality.

“In China, sister-city relations are a valued and effective way of promoting cooperation between companies, universities and other educational institutions. Together with Team Finland partners, we are opening doors in Shanghai, China’s most international city and a hub for Finnish companies operating in the Chinese market,” says Mayor Kai Mykkänen.

A key part of the visit was a meeting with Shanghai city leadership and a business forum on urban renewal organised in cooperation with Business Finland. The forum brought together Finnish companies and representatives of the city of Shanghai, local authorities, and the business community. Discussions covered topics such as the circular economy in construction, urban regeneration, and solutions for sustainable growth.

“Our long-term partnership provides an excellent platform for showcasing Finnish expertise in Shanghai and connecting Finnish companies with key local stakeholders,” says Mervi Heinaro, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Employment, Sports and Culture.

The second main objective of the visit was to strengthen cooperation on sustainable development. At the annual sustainable development forum between Espoo and Shanghai, held as part of UN World Cities Day, the cities discussed low-carbon construction, sustainable urban planning and cities’ ability to respond to the challenges of climate change.

Espoo’s experts presented practical solutions the city is implementing to promote sustainable urban development and exchanged experiences with their Shanghai counterparts. The discussions reinforced the cities’ shared goal of developing low-carbon, people-centred urban environments.

Companies invited to the meetings in Shanghai included KONE, Valmet, Neste, Nokia, Metsä Group, Orion and Metso. The visit supported Finnish companies operating in China in strengthening their connections with local stakeholders.

During the visit, the delegation also explored urban development projects in Shanghai and discussed topics such as circular construction, green infrastructure and urban regeneration with local experts. 

The programme included a visit to Tongji University, one of the world’s leading universities, especially in the fields of engineering, construction and urban planning. Tongji is a long-standing partner of Aalto University. Mayor Mykkänen delivered a guest lecture at Tongji University on Espoo’s work on nature and climate.

In the cultural sector, the visit helped establish connections with museums and arts organisations in Shanghai. The discussions focused on potential future exhibition collaborations and other cultural projects. These initiatives could also feature in the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Espoo-Shanghai sister-city relationship in 2028.

Hanna Eskelinen, International Affairs Specialist, tel. +358 43 8273491, hanna.eskelinen@espoo.fi

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