Hangzhou International Day 2026: A City Opens Its Doors to the World
Hangzhou, China – September 8, 2026 – The 9th Hangzhou International Day kicked off at the Dragon Hotel Hangzhou on September 5, 2026. Marking a decade since it hosted the G20 Summit and capitalizing on the numerous post-Asian Games opportunities, Hangzhou is now racing to establish itself as the national leader in AI innovation. Alongside this, the mega-city is moving full steam ahead to become a world-class modern socialist metropolis, reaffirming its enduring identity as a city of great history and culture, innovation, and ecological progress. This year’s International Day marks a fresh starting point from a decade of opening-up and a decade of leapfrog growth, bringing together people and resources for future collaboration. Nearly 200 guests, including consular officials from 24 countries, representatives from 9 international organizations, delegates from sister cities, local business leaders, foreign nationals, and youth representatives, gathered in one place for the city’s annual celebration.
Under the banner “Digital Intelligence Empowers a New Chapter, Openness and Inclusiveness Herald Common Prosperity,” the celebration showcased Hangzhou’s pioneering edge in digital economy and AI, demonstrating its commitment to building a world-class modern socialist international metropolis, pursuing AI innovation leadership, and fostering a higher-level city of innovation and vitality. It also gives the city’s open-door strategy a powerful new tailwind.
The opening ceremony presented an array of Hangzhou’s accomplishments in global engagement, technological openness, people-to-people connectivity, and upgraded services for international visitors. Liu Fei, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee, addressed the ceremony. He noted that Hangzhou International Day, born out of the G20 Hangzhou Summit, is a key initiative in the city’s go-global strategy. Over the years, the city has used this platform as a bridge to facilitate international economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges, elevating its strengths and global influence to a new height. Hangzhou has been named “China’s most attractive city for foreign nationals” for 15 consecutive years. The city will continue to listen to the needs of entrepreneurs and talent from both home and abroad, keep fine-tuning its innovation and business support policies, and steadily upgrade its international public services—so that more people can make their ambitions come true here. Also at the ceremony, Mayor Du Xuliang launched a new initiative to upgrade digital services for overseas arrivals, underscoring Hangzhou’s standing as one of China’s most business-friendly cities.
Marcelo Clovis Magnou Pérez, Dean of the Consular Corps and Consul General of Uruguay in Shanghai, also delivered a speech. He spoke highly of Hangzhou’s global edge in digital economy, tech innovation, urban governance, and cultural exchanges, and encouraged consulates in Shanghai to keep expanding their cooperation with the city across more sectors—building closer ties, seizing shared opportunities, and strengthening the bonds of international friendship.
Innovation-driven openness and a tech-powered future were central to the program. The ceremony featured a session on cutting-edge technologies, inviting Han Bicheng, founder and CEO of BrainCo, to share his views on Hangzhou’s AI industry, future innovations, and the cultivation of a tech-innovation ecosystem. As the permanent seat of BRLC (Belt and Road Local Cooperation Committee) secretariat, Hangzhou continues to expand its international network and elevate its cooperation platforms. This year’s International Day featured five new members: the Distretto Turistico Valpolicella (Italy), the National Association of Local Authorities (Georgia), H-Farm College (Italy), the Milan Fashion Institute (Italy), and the ASEAN Business Association (Thailand). The addition further enriches BRLC’s collaborative portfolio, broadening its worldwide cooperation in trade, education, content creation, and talent exchange.
Multiple cooperation agreements were also signed on site. Yuhang District renewed its sister-city agreement with Auburn, US, promising to pursue more people-to-people exchanges, economic cooperation, and mutual learning in urban governance. NACAA (French side) signed with Winland Center to strengthen Sino-French collaborations in art design, content creation, and international arts education. And, Hangzhou Talent Group reached a cooperation intention with ChinaEU, underscoring digital industry collaboration, international talent cultivation, and matchmaking for tech projects—efforts that will help position Hangzhou as a global destination for talent and a digital gateway to the world.
As one of China’s first pilot cities for digital entry facilitation (Special Initiative on Improving the Convenience of Digital Services for Inbound Overseas Visitors in Major Chinese Cities), Hangzhou also showcased its initial progress in this area at the International Day, rolling out several signature use cases.
The ceremony also honored outstanding participants in the Youth Speaking English Talent Show. The day also saw the opening of an exhibition featuring four sections: Digital & Tech, International Partnership, Green Ecology, and Culture & Events, highlighting the city’s landmark achievements in its go-global drive over the past decade. The International Day program also took delegates beyond the conference halls, with a site visit to the BCI Science Innovation & Demo Center and the Spatial Computing Experience Center at the Future Sci-Tech City, plus a stop at the 1954 Constitution Museum.
About Us
The Hangzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office (Hangzhou Municipal Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office) is the municipal government department responsible for foreign, Hong Kong, and Macao affairs. It coordinates sister-city relations, approvals for official travel abroad, and services for major international events. By supporting the G20 Hangzhou Summit and the Hangzhou Asian Games, the Office has significantly boosted the city’s international exchanges and opening-up.
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Media Contact
Company Name: Hangzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office
Contact Person: Chen Jingjing
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Country: China
Website: http://fao.hangzhou.gov.cn/
