The Global Mayors Dialogue opened on January 6 in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, gathering mayors and representatives from countries including Canada, Finland, and South Korea. The event focused on sustainable development strategies for winter economies, leveraging Harbin’s reputation as China’s “Ice City” and its annual Ice and Snow Festival.
International Cooperation and Sister-City Relationships
Delegates visited key city landmarks such as Central Street and the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice and snow theme park. Andrew Knack, mayor of Edmonton, Canada, noted that the Ice and Snow Festival has significantly boosted Harbin’s tourism. Edmonton has maintained a sister-city relationship with Harbin for over 40 years, reflecting long-standing international ties.
Heikki Kontiosalo, deputy speaker of the city council of Rovaniemi, Finland, expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with Harbin in areas like ice and snow technology, winter sports, and related equipment. Rovaniemi, located within the Arctic Circle, shares similarities with Harbin in leveraging cold climates for economic growth through winter tourism.
Economic Impact and Expo Launch
Coinciding with the dialogue, the inaugural Harbin International Ice and Snow Expo commenced, showcasing advanced ice-and-snow equipment such as industrial-grade unmanned snow-removal machines, snowmobiles, and carbon fiber skis. The expo aims to foster international investment and cooperation in the winter economy sector.
Official data indicates that Harbin, as the origin of modern winter sports in China, recorded a total ice and snow economic output exceeding 160 billion yuan (approximately 22.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024. This accounts for about one-sixth of China’s national total, underscoring the city’s significant role in the country’s winter economy.
Li Mian, Harbin’s executive vice mayor, emphasized the city’s open attitude towards global engagement and highlighted the dialogue’s role as a bridge for sharing development experience. Harbin has established sister-city ties with 37 cities in 28 countries, furthering its international outreach and economic partnerships.
