A river-themed forum highlighting cooperation between global metropolises and international organizations convened in Shanghai on Monday, aimed at deepening ties between the riverside cities of Shanghai and New York and strengthening China-US people-to-people exchanges.

The 2nd river dialogue between Shanghai and New York, inspired by the cities' Huangpu and Hudson rivers, brought together UN agency representatives and experts from both nations to exchange insights and explore collaborative opportunities in fields including economic, trade and cultural exchanges.

"The Huangpu and Hudson rivers have evolved from industrial lifelines to urban landmarks, while Shanghai and New York have forged lasting civilian bonds," said Sha Hailin, president of the Shanghai Public Relations Association. "We maintain that enduring people-to-people relationships are essential for China-US relations to navigate steadily forward."

Sha noted that both cities, situated at the convergence of the river and sea, embrace global perspectives. While New York's status as home to UN headquarters and numerous international organizations reinforces its global significance, Shanghai is emerging as a hub for international organizations, exemplified by the recently announced International Monetary Fund Shanghai center.

"Both rivers anchor their respective cities and serve as vital connection points while defining urban identity. There's a wonderful parallelism for New York and Shanghai in terms of their relationship with water," said Jeffrey Lehman, executive vice chancellor of NYU Shanghai and chair of the AmCham Shanghai board of governors.

"These two cities share certain key advantages. New York connects the United States to the world economically, culturally and politically, while people in China look outward from Shanghai to connect to the rest of the world," he said.

Noah Fraser, senior vice president of China operations at the US-China Business Council, highlighted Shanghai's appeal to American enterprises. "With over 6,000 US companies operating here, Shanghai serves as a vital base for regional headquarters, R&D centers and innovation hubs," Fraser said. He also noted three priorities: maintaining a healthy and competitive business environment, further deepening opening-up, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

"As China's gateway to the world, Shanghai symbolizes not only the city's openness but also the nation's broader commitment to reform and global integration," Fraser added.

The event was jointly organized by the Shanghai Public Relations Association, the Shanghai Institute of American Studies, and the Shanghai UN Research Association.