A view of Shanghai Photo: VCG

The International Economic and Technical Cooperation Center under China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released a notice in recent days, aiming to invite international cities to join the initiative of the Network of Partner Cities on New Industrial Revolution.

The initiative is committed to promoting practical cooperation among cities from various countries in areas such as digital transformation, green and low-carbon development, industrial and supply chain collaboration, innovation resource sharing, empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises, and industrial talent cultivation, through policy exchanges, experience sharing, industrial matchmaking, and talent exchanges.

After review and approval, the selected cities will be officially included in the Network of Partner Cities on New Industrial Revolution. The official release will be made at the BRICS New Industrial Revolution Partnership Forum, jointly hosted by the MIIT and East China's Fujian government in May 2026.

The invitation is intended to implement the International Cooperation Initiative on New Industrialization, jointly initiated by the MIIT along with the industrial and communications authorities of 19 countries. The initiative follows the Action Plan for the International Cooperation Initiative on New Industrialization (2025-2026) jointly formulated by all parties, with a focus on advancing inter-city industrial cooperation and establishing the New Industrial Revolution Partner Cities Network.

Cities-level and cluster-level cooperation is the foundation step for establishing stable and resilient industrial chain among different countries. The Global Times learned that after joining the network, leaders of overseas cities could exchange visits and expand cooperation with corresponding Chinese cities under the mechanism, thus yielding more business opportunities. 

MIIT's International Economic and Technical Cooperation Center will serve as the responsible unit for the construction of the network. 

It will provide participating cities with the a series of services, including establishing cross-border city communication and liaison channels, matching bilateral international cooperation resources, organizing international industrial exchange activities, offering consulting and guidance on international cooperation in new industrialization, and assisting in the implementation of cooperation projects. These efforts aim to ensure the orderly development and effective outcomes of cooperation projects under the Network of Partner Cities on New Industrial Revolution. 

Global Times