Shanghai and New York Forge Path as Model for China-U.S. Subnational Cooperation

On June 30, 2026, New York time, the launch ceremony and New York Forum for OUR WATER Season 3 were held at Bloomberg Headquarters in New York, co-hosted by Bloomberg L.P. The event, themed "Rivers of Opportunities," focused on the shared certainties of Shanghai and New York City, anchoring growth through open cooperation and reshaping the future through innovation and resilience.

The forum was attended by Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies; Tang Zhiwen, Minister of the Embassy of the People's Republic in the United States; Ma Xiaoxiao, Deputy Consul General of the People's Republic of China in New York; Chen Yiqun, Director-General of the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality; and Hu Minghua, President of Shanghai United Media Group, along with over 200 guests from the political, business, finance, and cultural sectors of both nations. The forum aims to explore the openness and similarities between the two cities to identify a shared framework of certainties among global hub cities.

Shanghai and New York share distinct advantages in sectors such as finance and trade, while also confronting common challenges in urban renewal, low-carbon development, and digital transformation. Candid and open dialogue is essential for mutual learning and is expected to inject stability into U.S.-China relations. A panel titled "Investing in China, Winning the Future" featured discussions on how global capital understands the Chinese market, with participants noting that the appeal of Chinese assets is shifting from traditional growth narratives to AI, high-end manufacturing, financial opening-up, and institutional market development. As a hub for financial opening-up and an asset allocation center, Shanghai has become a crucial gateway linking international capital with opportunities in China.

Another panel, "Opportunities in Emerging Consumer Markets," moderated by Bloomberg Television host David Westin, observed that the consumer vitality of Shanghai and New York stems not only from market size but also from their ability to create experiences, understand people, and activate urban spaces.

In addition to the forum, the New York series of events for OUR WATER Season 3 includes: "West Meets East·Shanghai & New York 2026 - A Polaroid 20×24 Special Exhibition"; "Chinese Opera: A Century of Dreams - An Exhibition of Art Design and Technology"; an exhibition themed around Shanghai's "One River, One Creek" and Jing'an CAZ; and the China-U.S. Business Leaders Dialogue in New York. These events shape a tangible and immersive waterfront narrative, allowing the two metropolises to resonate in harmony through dialogue.

As Minister Tang Zhiwen stated in his address, Shanghai and New York are expected to become benchmarks for subnational cooperation between China and the United States, making new contributions to fostering a "constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability."