Errachidia mayor joins Ningbo’s global mayors dialogue

Officials from 15 countries met in Ningbo, China, from Nov. 2 to 5 for the 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue, where cities signed cooperation deals and released a consensus on opening, trade and supply-chain stability. Errachidia joined a new friendly exchange with Yuyao as the forum pushed practical collaboration across economic, cultural and municipal ties.

Why it matters: - The dialogue brought city leaders together to turn international cooperation into specific projects, exchanges and agreements. - The meeting focused on openness, connectivity and keeping industrial and supply chains stable. - Errachidia’s participation added a Morocco-China city link to the forum’s network of municipal partnerships.

What happened: - Said Karimi, mayor of Errachidia, attended the 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue · Ningbo in Zhejiang province from Nov. 2 to 5, 2026. - Officials from 15 countries joined the gathering, along with representatives of international organizations and companies. - Other attendees included Wayne Brown of Auckland, Enrico Ricci representing Florence, Ahmed Wazeery of Suez Governorate, Hosam Alkaweesh of Egypt’s local development ministry, Aleksandar Kitanski of Pehčevo, Sebastian Kovacs of Wiener Neustadt, Liu Meng of the China Office of the United Nations Global Compact and Zhou Qiangwu, former vice president and chief administrative officer of the New Development Bank. - The program used the theme “Openness and Connectivity for Shared Opportunities.” - The agenda included one main mayoral dialogue, two scenario dialogues and three cultural exchange activities.

The details: - Participants visited Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Ningbo Yaji Logistics Co., Ltd., Ningbo PIA Automation Holding Corp., Peacebird Group, Dongqian Lake and the Old Bund. - At Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, delegates saw the world’s largest port by cargo throughput. - At Ningbo PIA Automation’s workshops, delegates viewed embodied robot production and discussed how cities can open further and find new opportunities. - Fourteen cooperation projects were signed at the main session. - The projects covered friendly exchanges, economic and trade cooperation, science and technology, education, and cultural tourism. - Yuyao in Zhejiang and Errachidia in Morocco established friendly exchange relations. - Yinzhou District of Ningbo and Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray in France also established friendly exchange relations. - The Ningbo Consensus on Cooperative Development was released. - The consensus calls on cities to remain open and connected, deepen industrial collaboration, strengthen people-to-people ties, and keep industrial and supply chains stable and flowing. - Joachim Moyse, mayor of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray and vice president of Métropole Rouen Normandie, said the dialogue was a round table for building a framework for peace. - Moyse said representatives should sit down together when the world makes it easy for people to lose hope. - Moyse said he hoped to bring Ningbo’s attention to every social group and its people-centered urban approach back to France. - Ningbo is described as an international gateway and advanced manufacturing base in eastern Zhejiang. - The city is known for the phrase “ancient libraries and a port connecting the world.” - A seven-section exhibition, “Ningbo and the World,” highlighted local companies taking Ningbo’s culture overseas. - During the Night of Ningbo, classic books selected by Ningbo and visiting cities were added to the collection of Tianyi Pavilion. - Tianyi Pavilion, built in 1561, is the oldest private library still standing in China.

Between the lines: - The event paired policy discussion with site visits, signaling that Ningbo is using municipal diplomacy to showcase both industrial capacity and cultural soft power. - The new city ties and signed projects suggest the forum is designed to produce follow-on activity, not just ceremonial exchanges. - The emphasis on peace, openness and supply-chain stability reflects a broader push by cities to position themselves as practical international partners even when national politics are strained.

What’s next: - The signed projects and friendly exchange agreements are likely to move into follow-up coordination between the participating cities. - The Ningbo Consensus provides a shared framework for future cooperation on trade, industrial links and cultural exchange. - Ningbo’s exhibition and cultural programming point to continued efforts to expand its international profile beyond manufacturing and logistics.

The bottom line: - Errachidia’s participation in Ningbo’s mayors forum put the Moroccan city inside a broader network of practical city-to-city cooperation aimed at trade, culture and long-term connectivity.